Lodwar – November 26, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Turkana County has taken a major step toward streamlining how development partners operate, following the validation of the draft Partnerships Coordination Policy by key stakeholders drawn from government, development agencies, and academia.

The proposed policy outlines the coordinating role of the County Government and establishes the institutions and structures that partners will be required to use in delivering services to residents over the next decade (2025–2035).

Once adopted, Turkana will join counties such as Nairobi and Garissa, which already have functional partnerships coordination policies guiding development actors.

Speaking during the validation exercise, Director for Partnerships, Mike Aupe, said the policy was informed by research that revealed significant duplication of roles and challenges in service delivery due to the large number of partners operating without a guiding framework.

Aupe noted that the policy is expected to harmonize the planning of interventions, address existing coordination gaps, and ensure that resources are allocated equitably and efficiently.

He added that the proposed framework enjoys strong backing from Governor Dr. Jeremiah Lomorukai Napotikan, who has consistently emphasized the need for partnerships that deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes.

Additionally, Director Aupe acknowledged the UNICEF for supporting the process saying that the County had a fully functional partnerships unit to drive the agenda.

Representing the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), Susan Aletia observed that Turkana’s development index remains significantly below the national average despite substantial investment by partners.

Aletia attributed the gap partly to the absence of a coordination policy.

She also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the county through the policy adoption process, noting that a structured framework is key to accelerating Turkana’s development prospects.

The policy draft was unpacked by consultants from Turkana University College, including Dr. Lucy Akinyi and Dr. Collins Obura who highlighted the importance of evidence-based planning, accountability mechanisms, and alignment of partner interventions with county priorities.

Development partners who included VNGI, RCK, Save the Children among others participated in the session expressed their willingness to commit to the policy once it is finalized, noting that it provides much-needed clarity and direction for future programming.

According to the draft document, all partners will be required to sign an MoU with the County, follow a formal partner onboarding and approval process, use the centralized coordination system to register their programs, share data with the Government and, adhere to the monitoring and evaluation procedures.