Building Youth Resilience Through Effective Policies: A PESTEL Analysis of Climate-Related Policies in Turkana County, Kenya

This study examines climate-related policies in Turkana County in ensuring youth inclusivity, relevance, and effectiveness amid chronic climate variability. Despite the existence of national and county-level policies, climate risks continue to pose challenges. With all policies in alignment with the Paris Agreement, Turkana’s vulnerable youth continue to suffer from extreme socio-economic miseries triggered by repeated droughts, floods, heat stress, and wind storms. Based on PESTEL analysis and vulnerability theory, the research identifies notable policy gaps, including poor youth representation, inadequate financial support, and few engagement mechanisms. Findings indicate that climate risks significantly affect livelihoods, exacerbating poverty, particularly among young people, and underscoring their limited participation and voice in climate governance and decision-making. In addition, findings reveal that current policies do not make specific provisions for the inclusion of youths in decision-making, innovation, and climate resilience initiatives, thereby restricting their transformative agency. Policy limitations include a lack of youth-specific policies and fewer financial tools to encourage youth-led climate action. Proposals emphasize mainstreaming youth capacity-building, enhancing digital and peer climate education, and fostering youth-led green action. This transforms young people from vulnerable groups into active forces inspiring climate resilience and enhancing socio-economic development and sustainability in Turkana County.