Mifugo Complex, June 9, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The incoming County Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Dr Ezekiel Ekuwam Etelej has returned to Mifugo Complex to head the Department he is familiar with, following a handover and takeover event between him and Dr Gilchrist Muya Lokoel on Monday afternoon.
Dr Etelej said that he is happy to come back “home” where he was before he moved to the Medical Services Department.
Speaking during the takeover, he said, is going to pick from where his predecessor left, noting a number of progress achieved within the period.
Noting the need to heavily invest in the Livestock Development, Dr Etelej reiterated, “Livestock Development is a key economic lifeline of the Turkana people, thereby considering to prioritize investments that make livestock healthy against diseases like Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Lumpy Skin Disease and Tsetse fly infestation across Turkana will be my top agenda, going forward.”
Additionally, he took the opportunity to thank and wished well the outgoing Chief Officer and the technical staff in the Department, while promising to work hand in hand with the team to spearhead the Governor’s Agenda on Food Security.
The Veterinary Doctor welcomed the challenge on the Napeililim holding ground, multiplication and breeding centre in Lomosogol in Kerio and Kalapata rangeland flagship projects that he promised to fast track once he settles down.
On the same note, the outgoing Chief Officer, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, who moves back to Medical Services Department said that his nine months in the Department have been fruitful citing a number of achievements.
“Among the many things we have achieved, we have prepositioned all our supplementary livestock feeds to sub-counties for immediate response to environmental shocks, livestock drugs and vaccines are readily available, while 2000 households have benefited from the livestock insurance project implemented by National Government through De-Risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement (DRIVE) Project in Kenya that aims at providing financial protection to pastoralists against drought and other climate-related risks.”
He further urged the incoming CCO to enhance the One Health Strategy, arguing it is benefiting many pastoralist communities within and across shared borders.
Dr Lokoel lauded all the partners working with the Department, thanking them for their support and partnership in many of the activities.
Presiding over the event, the Deputy County Secretary, Joseph Nyang’a said the transfers are normal government practices that are meant to enhance service delivery to the public.
He told them the recent move was of the trust the Governor had in them in moving forward the Livestock and Medical Services Departments.
“This is part of the county government’s bigger plan to improve the livestock sector and medical services for the benefit of Turkana population as it resonates well with the Governor’s Nine-Point Transformative Agenda.
DCS urged the Chief Officers to work together with their teams and the fulfillment of their Department’s mandates.
The handover and takeover come after the recent reshuffle by the Governor through an Executive Order No. 2/2025, in which the two chief officers were interchangeably moved from Medical Services to Livestock Development and vice-versa.
Dr Benson Long’or (Director, Veterinary Services), Joram Nasia (Director, Administration) and George Ekutan representing Livestock Production spoke and gave their message of good will to the CCOs.
Others present were; Dr Erenius Nakadio, Dr Eric Ontita, Dr Job Rono, Timothy Ewoton, Robert Eipa, Peter Lobali and Paul Lokaran.
