ABOUT NACONEK
The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) is a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) under the Ministry of Education. The purpose of establishing the council was primarily to bridge the education disparities, characteristic of the ASAL (purely nomadic) regions, pockets of poverty (within the ASALs) areas and Urban Informal Settlements of Kenya.
The establishment of NACONEK was informed by twin documents of Nomadic Education in Kenya, 2010 and Session Paper No. 14 of 2012. Further, the Council was established under Section 94 of the Basic Education Act of 2013 and officially launched in May 2015.
LEGAL STATUS OF NACONEK
NACONEK’s establishment was anchored on:
i) Article 56 of the Kenya Constitution, addressing minorities and marginalised groups.
ii) The Basic Education Act No. 14 of 2013, Section 94 (1) and the Sixth Schedule.
iii) Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2019 on a Policy Framework for Reforming Education and Training for Sustainable Development in Kenya.
iv) Sessional Paper No. 8 of 2012 on the Policy for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands; and
v) The Policy Framework for Nomadic Education in Kenya (2010). The Kenya Vision 2030 further recognized the Council’s establishment as pivotal in enhancing involvement of ASALs and nomadic communities in education.
History of NACONEK
The Kenya Economic Recovery Strategy of 2003 acknowledged the potential of the ASALs to contribute to the national development agenda which led to the establishment of the Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands (MDNKOAL) in 2008.
Across 2009 to 2014, the MDNKOAL engaged a team of experts from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) to aid in designing a national strategy for facilitating access to quality education for nomadic communities. The team conducted comprehensive research to address the challenge of education and skilling that would enable Kenyan pastoralists to compete equally with other national population groups, while preserving their pastoralist livelihoods as producers.
With the advent of devolution in Kenya, the MDNKOAL was converted to the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. This re-organisation further led to the establishment of a State Department for Devolution; a Directorate of Special Programmes; the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and NACONEK. The creation of NACONEK in May 2015 was expected to contribute to improved delivery of education in the ASALs, a crucial step for fast tracking Kenya’s progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All targets, while unlocking the potential of
ASALs for the benefit of the entire nation.
Vision
NACONEK envisions “A well-educated population in marginalised areas proactively engaged in the transformation of Kenya”.
Mission
To promote access to equitable, inclusive, quality and relevant education to learners in marginalised areas of Kenya.
Quality Statement
NACONEK commits to address the educational needs of Kenya’s marginalised communities by actively considering their traditions, values and norms while striving to achieve Basic Education.