Lokaburu, May 15, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, has reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to restock animals to the targeted 20 areas spread across the county.
The county plans to restock affected households with 12000 animals to pastoralist community. The restocking activity, said the chief, terming held the key to pastoralists future and prosperity in restoring their livelihood.
“The many animals totaling to 18 million in Turkana clearly demostrate how community’s livelihood is anchored on pastoralism throughout the year. And this aligns well with the Governor’s Development Agenda on Food Security,” CCO affirms.
Dr Lokoel was speaking in Lokaburu, Lokichar, when he graced the distribution of 342 shoats to 85 vulnerable families, who had been rendered hopeless after the effects of cattle rustling, animal diseases and drought in the previous years.
In addition, the Livestock Development Chief says, is impressed that the identification of the benefiting families in Lokaburu, Kalodicha and Losajait considered community-based targeting that makes the whole process inclusive and transparent.
The Chief Officer further pointed out his Department has enough stock of supplies of veterinary vaccines and equipments in readiness for the swift action, owing to the real-time e-surveillance reports.
An elder, Aletia Muya, 68, residing in Lokaburu, expressed his satisfaction that the only vulnerable households have wholly benefited from the restocking exercise. He said, Lokaburu residents will continue supporting the agenda of the county government.
Another beneficiary, Mary Long’or 48, from Kalodicha village says, “my family was turned to begging to feed the children after bandits raided all animals. We now have a second chance to life following the receipt of these goats.”
Supporting the restocking for the victims of banditry, drought and diseases, Bobby Ekadon, the Director of Livestock Production intimates the exercise has given a big relief to the affected families since it began the last three months.
“Restocking the affected families across the county is the government’s bigger plan to restore back the pastoralists’ lost livelihoods,” remarked Ekadon.
Present during the afternoon event was, Redempta Kamaret (Turkana South Sub-county Livestock Production Officer), and Administrators; Simon Koloi (Turkana South Sub-county), Ewar Narogoi (Assistant Director) Festus Lokucha (Lokichar Ward), Miriam Asekon (Lokichar village), Mathew Nadiko (Kasuroi village), and John Enipono (Senior Chief Lokichar).
