In a meeting held in Kakuma, the County Government has teamed up with Partners to constitute a committee that will focus on planning for the launch and operationalisation of the child rescue centre in Kakuma.
The joint Committee consists of the Turkana West Sub-county Administrator, Deputy Director of Social Protection, IRC, UN Women, UNHCR, UNICEF, Senior Principal Magistrate, DCS in charge of Kakuma Refugee Camp and DRS.
The multi-sectoral team has been tasked to effectively plan for the launch and thereby mobilise resources to fill the gaps in the resource basket.
The Chief Officer for ECDE and Social Protection, Moses Korea, announced that the planned launch is scheduled on December 15, 2023. He was grateful for the multi-sectoral committee established to spearhead the planning of the forthcoming event while reiterating the commitment of the County Government to operationalise the centre.
Chief Korea said the need to operationalise the rescue facility is prompted by a huge number of children on the streets of Kakuma town and Refugee Camp, hence the support to protect them.
He reported that the County has immensely invested in the construction of two dormitories for girls and boys, a kitchen, dining and store, two twin classrooms, an administration block, a perimeter wall to be complete soon, electricity connectivity, construction of an elevated steel water tank, among others.
“We take pride in, as Turkana County is among a few counties in Kenya with the required standard operating procedures (SOPs) on child rescue centres,” the CCO said.
The Turkana West Deputy County Commissioner, Chaunga Machaunga echoed the Chief Officer’s sentiment, saying the influx of children on the streets of Kakuma town and Refugee Camp has been a menace of ages. And the news about the planned launch and operationalisation of the Kakuma Rescue Centre will be a sigh of relief to both the Governments and the community.
In addition to this, he added that the Centre will not only serve Kakuma but also serve Lokichoggio Sub-county.
Machaunga, however, cautioned the Turkana community against mistaking the centre as a haven for getting food rather than to be used for emergency cases, where children affected can be held for a while before integrated with their families.
The Deputy Director for Social Protection, Hebrews Idoka observed that the operationalisation of the new centre would need the joint support of the government and development partners for the community to fully realise the benefits that come with the rescue centre.
Moving forward, Idoka said, the Committee will meet on Thursday 7th December 2023, to draw the comprehensive plan for the event.
The County team in attendance was; Zacharia Etukon (Deputy Sub-county Administrator) and Andrew Kalimapus Ngikoi (Kakuma Ward Administrator).
Others were, Alex Marangach ( Social Protection Officer), Jackson Ekadeli ( Principal Sub-county Social Protection Officer), John Ewoton (Social Protection Officer) and Cathelen Lokurka (Social Welfare Officer)
