The enormity of challenges facing livestock sector ranging from diseases to recurring droughts calls for Public-Private partnership, County Chief Officer for Livestock Development and Fisheries Lokidap Nakoel has said.

Speaking today in Lodwar during a livestock stakeholders meeting, CCO Lokidap said such partnership will be a critical ingredient in complimenting County Government’s efforts through pooling of resources and expertise to tackle emerging issues affecting pastoralists.

The County Chief Officer asserted the County Government’s commitment to coordinate and provide a conducive environment for all partners to successful implement their programmes.

He insisted on the need for partners to consult regularly and realign their programmes to suit challenges facing the livestock sector in Turkana. He wondered why the county still grapples with similar problems despite hosting a larger number of stakeholders in the private sector.

“We must rethink collectively as partners so that we change the situation in Turkana. The County Government recognizes strategic partnership as a key pillar in the 9-point agenda of the Governor,” He said

County Director for Veterinary Services Benson Longor acknowledged that development partners had contributed immensely towards livestock disease surveillance and control in the county.

He pointed out that the cross-border Animal Health partners’ round table meeting was significant as it came at a time when the department was seeking to mobilise for resources to undertake activities that will foster the peaceful co-existence of communities within the Ateker cluster.

He added that the Veterinary Services Directorate in partnership with the private sector plans to undertake targeted vaccination and treatment of livestock across the Kenyan-Uganda border.