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The local media has an important role to play in creating awareness through dialogue and distribution of critical information before, during and after a disaster, be it man made or natural. Disaster in normal sense affects negatively the capacity and ability of communities to access food in a dignified manner. This is still the case for Baringo and West Pokot Counties of Kenya. The media is therefore perceived as a key partner in promoting strategies for disaster risk reduction (DRR) as well as other components of food crisis prevention. The ability to set the agenda on issues around food security based on well informed context and concepts continues to act as the challenge nonetheless.

KAS Food Security Mapping and Analysis Report, 2016, pointed out that one of the biggest challenges facing the media actors is the lack of authoritative approaches in respect to public advocacy and community dialogue that attempts to demystify the current challenges of food insecurity in relations to local governance and management. In the past and present, there continues to be a huge communication barrier among important stakeholders in the area of food security especially between Non State Actors and the media as well as the community and the media. The media has been rated to provide misinformation while concentrating largely on political activities that are highly sellable.

The two day seminar held in Makutano, West Pokot on the 30th and 31st of March 2017 was therefore convened in partnership with I Serve Kenya, Bio Energy Research and Development Foundation (BIFORAD) and Pokot Rural Development Project (PRDP), principally, to assist the local media gain a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities in packaging content for political discussion, information distribution and agenda setting on issues of food security. The rationale is that, with increased knowledge, media will help to promote integrated approach to development in this sector. The activity was attended by approximately 36 participants drawn from the local media actors, media-related government officials as well as Non State Actors (NGOs and CBOs under the Asal Stakeholder’s Forum –West Pokot and Baringo Chapters) and entailed lectures, presentations, group work and e-cases.