Lamu has received its second national honour for peace-building after public service management chief officer Khadija Fumo was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret.

She was recognised for her contribution to peace-building, social cohesion, community engagement and initiatives aimed at addressing young people’s vulnerability to radicalisation.

Fumo was the only person from Lamu among those honoured in the 2026 list, marking the second time a county government officer has received national recognition for peace-building efforts.

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In 2023, Shee Kupi Shee, the county’s director of disaster risk management and peace-building, received a similar honour for his contribution to peace and community resilience.

The two officers work in the county government’s public service management department.

County commissioner Steven Sangolo described Fumo’s recognition as a proud moment for the county, citing her efforts to strengthen cooperation between security agencies and local communities.

“She is not here with us today but is in Nairobi to be with the President for her award,” Sangolo said during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Lamu.

Kupi said the two honours highlighted the role of county institutions and public servants in promoting peace, strengthening social cohesion and supporting inclusive development in communities affected by insecurity.

He credited Governor Issa Timamy’s administration with supporting institutional development, peace-building initiatives and coordinated public service delivery.

“The recognition of Fumo reflects the value of investing in public servants and supporting coordinated approaches that bring government closer to the people,” Kupi said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said Fumo’s work had included strengthening collaboration between government institutions, communities and development partners, supporting economic opportunities for young people, and encouraging community participation to build trust among diverse groups.

Kupi said sustainable peace required more than security operations, adding that inclusive governance, youth employment, gender mainstreaming and measures to prevent violent extremism were equally important.

Lamu has experienced deadly attacks attributed to the militant group al Shabaab.

In June 2014, gunmen attacked residents and establishments in the county, killing more than 60 people. The attackers targeted hotels, a police station and residents watching a World Cup football match.

Against this backdrop, Kupi said peace-building required sustained cooperation between government agencies, communities, development partners and other stakeholders to address the underlying causes of insecurity.

He said the recognition of the two officers was a milestone for the department and the county, demonstrating that local contributions to peace and community resilience could receive national recognition.

“The county government congratulates Khadija Fumo on this distinguished achievement and commends all public servants, community leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners who continue to work together to sustain peace in Lamu,” Kupi said.

He said the county government remained committed to promoting peaceful coexistence, strengthening community resilience and ensuring residents had opportunities to participate in development.