Lodwar- August 2, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Technical Working Group under the Business Development and Resource Management Advisory Project has successfully concluded the third policy draft on Urban Areas Management, specifically focusing on fire safety.
The draft marks the third policy instrument developed by the team, following a series of workshops supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) over the past year. Previous policy drafts addressed Land Use and Waste Management.
Speaking at the opening of the final drafting workshop, Dr Erus commended the team’s efforts and eiterated the importance of the new policies in guiding the county’s growth.
“I am particularly glad that the team has worked on fire safety, land use, and waste management. The conclusion of the Land Use Management policy is a major addition to our planning framework,” said Dr Erus.
He emphasized that the new policy would be crucial in directing land demarcation, particularly for culturally significant activities such as grazing, and in safeguarding water aquifers from human-induced contamination.
The Deputy Governor also highlighted the County Government’s ongoing collaboration with the World Bank on complementary initiatives, including Kenya Urban Support Program, and urban development policy and local economic development through IFC’s Kakuma Kolebeyei Challenge Fund.
“We recognise that policy documents form the backbone of effective service delivery thanks to IFC’s support,” he noted.
County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Areas Management, Faith Aletia, expressed optimism that the draft policies will receive swift approval from both the County Executive, and the County Assembly.
“We have ensured that all the policy frameworks are interconnected to catalyse meaningful development and transformation in Turkana,” she said.
The policies are expected to provide a structured approach to urban planning and resource management, aligning with Turkana’s broader development goals.
