Nile Basin Civil Society Forum re-elects Joseph Ngome as Chairman

Joseph Ngome addressing the media after his re-election. Faith Matete 

The Kenya Nile Basin Discos Forum has re-elected Joseph Ngome as its chair following elections held during a three-day General Assembly meeting. 

The forum is part of the wider Nile Basin Discos, a civil society platform that brings together organisations from 10 countries within the Nile Basin, with Kenya as one of the member states. 

Speaking after the election, Ngome said the meeting brought together delegates to review activities undertaken over the past three to four years, a period during which elections had stalled due to funding constraints. 

He said the General Assembly marked a return to full operations after a long period without elections caused by lack of resources. 

Ahead of the elections, members participated in training sessions focusing on climate change, community awareness and nature-based solutions, aimed at strengthening grassroots and institutional capacity to respond to environmental challenges within the Nile Basin. 

Ngome noted that the forum has now secured funding from the World Bank, which has boosted confidence among members and enabled the resumption of key programmes. 

The current project cycle runs from April 2025 to March 2027. 

He said the availability of funding has clarified members’ roles and strengthened participation, giving the organisation confidence to achieve its goals over the next two years. 

Ngome added that the organisation is implementing governance reforms, including plans to amend its constitution to strengthen the participation of youth and women. 

According to him, the forum has introduced youth-focused entry points and recruited young professionals to enhance generational inclusion, while women are being supported through the Nile Women Network, which promotes women’s leadership and engagement in environmental governance. 

He said the forum is deliberately prioritizing women, youth and community participation, noting that sustainable management of the Nile Basin depends on inclusive leadership. 

The forum is expected to roll out community engagement activities across member countries as part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and climate resilience within the Nile Basin.