Lodwar, 2nd March 2023 (Governor’s Press Service)-Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has issued a stern warning against the mismanagement of government resources in Turkana County.
He directed the County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries to ensure accountability in the management of public resources, stating that his administration would not condone any corruption.
“My government will not be a friend of someone who sells animal feeds. I urge MCAs to be vigilant to ensure the food gets to the people it was meant to benefit,” he said.
The Governor made these remarks today at the Mifugo Complex while flagging off vehicles carrying livestock supplementary feeds intended for drought-affected agro-pastoralist households.
He urged the officers responsible for distributing the feeds to uphold professionalism and ensure that the targeted households received their fair share.
The County Government has disbursed 340 metric tonnes of livestock feeds, which will be distributed to pastoralists in Turkana South, Turkana West, Loima, and Turkana Central Sub-Counties. Each household is expected to receive two bags of range cubes, weighing 50kg each.
In addition, the Governor flagged off veterinary drugs and vaccines that will be prepositioned to sub-counties and will be used during emergency treatment, cross-border vaccination, deworming, and disease vector control exercises.
Governor Napotikan directed the Agriculture department to increase land for crop production and ensure that they produce 200,000 bags to justify Government spending on food security.
The Governor thanked partner organizations investing in food security programmes and read the riot act against organizations engaged in politics instead of investing donor funds in their primary objectives.
On the fish value chain, the Governor gave directives against the use of small nets and asked the ministry to crack down on rogue traders taking advantage of the fisherfolk to engage in illegal under-size fishing activities in Lake Turkana.
He directed the ministry to budget for incentives for Community Disease Reporters (CDRs) who are critical in livestock diseases surveillance as the County Assembly fast-tracks completion of the Turkana County Animal Health Bill, 2023.
The Governor informed residents that during his recent visit to Dubai, he had engaged experts in water desalination as the county seeks to find solutions to water shortages.
County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries David Erukudi assured the Governor that officers in his ministry with support from development partners were up to the task to deliver the objectives of the county on food security.
Leader of Minority Samuel Lomodo asked the ministry to ensure that the livestock feeds got to targeted beneficiaries and urged development partners to invest in programmes that will have a positive impact on residents of Turkana.
Also present were Chief of Staff Peter Yoromoe, County Chief Officer Janerose Tioko, Veterinary Services Director Benson Longor and several representatives of livestock stakeholders based in Turkana.
Other Leaders who spoke included the Chairman of the County Assembly Committee on Agriculture Samal Etubon, MCAs Aemun Michael (Kaputir), Mark Emojong (Loima), Samuel Aliwo (Lobokat) and nominated members Selina Lokope, Esther Mana, Sarah Abdi Abdillahi and Jecinta Abenyo.
