Lodwar, June 6, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Deputy Governor Dr John Erus met with officials from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and held talks on ongoing IRC projects in Kakuma and the possibility of increasing coverage in other parts of Turkana.
The meeting also served as a platform for familiarization with the recently launched local content laws by the County Assembly of Turkana.
Noting that IRC had a long history of interventions in the health and water sectors in Turkana, DG Erus said that the County was keen on ensuring that all development partners sign a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the County to enhance observance of Turkanas’ the local content law.
“We will continue our partnership with IRC. The County has benefitted from capacity building of it’s healthcare staff courtesy of the partnership. Moving forward, we urge IRC to consider offering their services beyond their current areas of operations in Kakuma and Lokichoggio, and venture to other areas like Turkana East where their interventions are also required,” remarked Dr Erus.
Dr Erus also highlighted the county government’s interest in projects with direct financial implications for the community and overall development.
The Governance and Systems Sharing Technical Lead for IRC, Elizabeth Mariabe, assured the Deputy Governor that IRC was working through local development organizations such as LOKADO and TUPADO, in implementing their programs at the community level.
Mariabe added that IRC was mobilizing resources from local and global donor institutions to further strengthen their programs, and possibly extend beyond their current areas of operation as requested by the Deputy Governor.
She further clarified that IRCs’ interventions had taken an Intergrated approach that rolls together emergency response, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), nutrition and health.
The meeting was also attended by Raphael Logum, Director of Resource Mobilization, and Mike Aupe, Deputy Director of Resource Mobilization.
IRC officials included Carol Olela, Program Coordinator for Kakuma and Lodwar; Joseph Lasuru, Senior Field Coordinator for Kakuma; and Joshua Rutto, Field Coordinator for Lodwar.
