About Us
Who We Are
Kivulini Trust is an Indigenous-led, non-profit, non-political organization registered under the Trustees Act (Laws of Kenya), working with pastoralist and other minority communities across Northern Kenya. We are committed to sustaining indigenous culture, language, knowledge, and identity by strengthening the connections between people, their cultural landscapes, and community life.
We believe that culture is a living foundation for identity, resilience, and sustainable development. By promoting intergenerational learning, indigenous stewardship, and community leadership, we help ensure that traditional knowledge, values, and practices continue to guide present and future generations while adapting to a changing world.
Through community partnerships, cultural learning spaces, research, documentation, youth engagement, and innovation, Kivulini Trust supports communities to celebrate their heritage, revitalize their languages, strengthen resilience, and safeguard the cultural and natural landscapes that sustain community life.
Our Vision
A progressive society that cherishes and celebrates its culture, respects its natural environment, and enjoys social harmony and prosperity.
Our Mission
To sustain and promote culture, indigenous knowledge, language, identity, and spiritual practices through documentation, intergenerational transmission, and youth engagement, ensuring their continuity across generations.
Our Core Values
Respect
Integrity
Indigenous Stewardship
Intergenerational Learning
Community Leadership
Resilience
Strategic Objectives
- Preserve and revitalize indigenous culture, language, and knowledge systems.
- Strengthen intergenerational learning and cultural transmission.
- Empower youth as custodians of culture, leadership, and community resilience.
- Promote indigenous stewardship of cultural landscapes, natural resources, and sustainable livelihoods.
- Advance research, documentation, and digital innovation for indigenous knowledge.
- Foster social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and peaceful coexistence.
- Strengthen institutional capacity, strategic partnerships, and organizational sustainability.
Our Approach
Kivulini Trust works alongside communities to strengthen the continuity of indigenous culture, knowledge, language, and identity across generations. Our approach is community-led and rooted in indigenous wisdom, recognizing communities as custodians of their cultural heritage, cultural landscapes, and natural resources.
We promote intergenerational learning by creating opportunities for elders and youth to share knowledge, skills, values, and traditions. Through community partnerships, cultural learning spaces, research, documentation, and innovation, we support locally driven solutions that strengthen cultural identity, resilience, and sustainable development.
Who we work with
We work with pastoralist, fishing and other minority communities across the rangelands of Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu and Laikipia counties — an area covering over 100,000 square kilometres of arid and semi-arid land. Our current community partners include the Turkana, Gabbra, Boran, Rendille, El-Molo, Burji, Somali, Garri, Samburu, Waata, Saakuyye, Daasanach and Konso peoples.
Our programs are organized around three pillars — Culture, Livelihood and Rights — each guided by our core values and strategic objectives.
Governance
Kivulini Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees that ensures our work stays true to the vision of the Trust. The Board appoints a Chief Executive Officer, who oversees implementation and leads the day-to-day management of the organization, supported by a team of dedicated, qualified staff.
Traditional institutions such as the Yaa council of elders continue to play a vital role alongside Kivulini Trust in community land governance, dispute resolution and the transmission of indigenous knowledge.
Our Partners
We welcome partnerships and collaborations that advance indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, community resilience, and sustainable development across Northern Kenya.