Northern Kenya turns to cultural tourism to boost community livelihoods

Northern Kenya is seeking to strengthen its position as a cultural and adventure tourism destination, with local communities looking to preserve their heritage while generating income and supporting vulnerable households.

At the centre of the initiative is the Loiyangalani Desert Cultural Museum, which documents the history, traditions and lifestyles of communities living around Lake Turkana, including the Turkana, Samburu, Rendille, El Molo and Dassanech.

Sara Elema, a destination management company operator involved in promoting Marsabit in partnership with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), said the museum offers visitors insights into traditional housing, food, ornaments, marriage customs and household utensils.

The facility also preserves aspects of the El Molo language, which faces the risk of disappearing as younger generations increasingly communicate in other community languages.

Elema said researchers, linguists and archaeologists had contributed to documenting the language, while community outreach programmes were helping integrate it into everyday life.

Established by the Marsabit County Government and managed jointly with the National Museums of Kenya, the museum serves as a cultural learning centre and a gateway for tourists exploring northern Kenya.

Elema said the region could distinguish itself through authentic cultural experiences, including homestays, traditional cuisine and annual festivals that bring together different communities.

She cited cultural festivals in Loiyangalani and Kalacha as opportunities for visitors to experience local traditions, food and performances.

“Northern Kenya should be sold as an adventure and cultural tourism hub because that is the niche which the rest of the country does not have,” she said.

On El Molo Island, tourism is viewed as an important source of support for households facing economic challenges.

The El Molo are recognised as Kenya's smallest and most endangered indigenous ethnic group. They live mainly along the southeastern shores of Lake Turkana in Marsabit County, where their culture, identity and livelihoods are closely tied to the lake.

The 2019 national census recorded 1,104 people identifying as El Molo. Community elders say generations of intermarriage have further complicated efforts to preserve the group's distinct cultural identity.

Unlike neighbouring pastoralist communities that depend largely on livestock, the El Molo are traditionally fisherfolk, relying on Lake Turkana for food and income.

Severio Lenapir, a local tour guide and youth representative, said tourism provides opportunities to support vulnerable families, widows and children's education, including transport to school.

However, he said visitor numbers had declined compared with previous years, partly due to taxes and other costs, reducing the economic benefits reaching local households.

Fishing also faces challenges, with residents reporting declining demand and rising operational costs. Fish from the lake are transported to markets in towns including Kisumu and Nairobi.

Lenapir identified the island's cultural shrine, fishing activities and traditional way of life as key attractions that could draw more visitors.

The community is seeking stronger tourism promotion and partnerships to expand these opportunities while preserving its cultural identity.

The initiative comes amid efforts by KTB to unlock the potential of northern Kenya and promote lesser-known destinations as part of a broader domestic tourism drive.

Through its Hapa Ni Wapi Sales Conversion Campaign, KTB is bringing together tour operators, county governments and tourism partners to develop ready-to-book travel packages as it targets 5.6 million bed nights by 2027.