Lodwar, July 30, 2025
The County Directorate of Climate Change has hosted officials from the Diocese of Lodwar and OXFAM to discuss potential areas of collaboration in tackling climate change in the region.
During the courtesy visit, the Director for Climate Change, George Edung, highlighted the ongoing Floods, Livelihood, and Climate Adaptation (FLOCHA) program as one of the initiatives jointly implemented by the county and partners to build community resilience and enhance climate adaptation.
“Turkana is highly vulnerable to climate-related shocks such as flash floods and prolonged droughts. The FLOCHA program has been developed with a strong disaster response component to mitigate these risks,” Edung said.
He welcomed the engagement and emphasized the county’s commitment to working closely with partners to address the impacts of climate change.
“This collaboration is timely and highly encouraged. The county remains committed to information-sharing and partnership-building as a means to foster a united front against climate vulnerabilities. We encourage you to find ways to support ongoing efforts to make Turkana more climate-resilient,” he added.
Edung further noted that the program also focuses on the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, development of early warning systems, and community capacity building to enhance participation in conservation activities.
Representing the Diocese of Lodwar, Rodgers Kidiya from the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission acknowledged Turkana’s climate vulnerability and underscored the importance of partnerships in addressing the crisis.
“Our visit has provided valuable insight into government-led climate programs and the inclusion of local communities. These lessons will guide us in designing a joint initiative aimed at boosting Turkana’s climate resilience,” said Kidiya.
He also noted the longstanding collaboration between the Church, OXFAM, and the government, pledging to explore ways to bring additional partners on board.
Other officials present included Deputy Director for Climate Change Thomas Kiyonga; OXFAM’s MEAL Specialist Anthony Gikari Irungu and Mirrian Mkongela; Johnstone Shinyanga from East Africa Centre for Human Rights; and Aling’a Jairus, Justice and Peace Coordinator for the Diocese of Lodwar.
