ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the intersection of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, climate’s impact on it and the nexus’s impact on human security. Geographically, it focuses on northwestern Kenya where security is highly dependent on natural resources (their availability and access) and on climatic conditions. Drawing on field data, the chapter uses the dual analytical lens of collaborative governance and relational equity to discuss the interlinkages between WEF nexus governance and security. The analysis shows that a State-centric, unidimensional security conceptualisation hinders collaborative governance, impeding stakeholder involvement and disregarding the critical significance of effective nexus governance for human security. The chapter further demonstrates the benefits of a relational equity approach to collaborative governance, highlighting the detrimental impact of disregarding key stakeholders’ expectations, needs and objectives. The chapter identifies implications for nexus and human security governance in northwestern Kenya. These include a failure to address complex interrelations between the WEF sectors; lack of acknowledgement of the impact of climate change on the nexus elements; and disregard by actors of collaborative governance. The chapter highlights the need for a relational equity approach to WEF nexus governance that may effectively incorporate human security.
