Kibish – December 20, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

For ten consecutive days, Kimormor One Health Outreach transformed some of Turkana County’s most remote settlements into fully operational service hubs, proving that integrated, community-centred service delivery can work even in the hardest-to-reach corners of Kenya.

Covering Lowatha, Kaitede, Natelo, Liwan, Kangibeiyo, Lotiptip, Olegech, Merukuka, Loyoro and Loitakibila, the outreach reached a total population of 6,892 people, spread across about 600 households. Medical teams treated over 2,320 people while veterinary teams reached 18,452 livestock, reaffirming the central idea behind Kimormor: in Turkana, human health, animal health and livelihoods are inseparable.

“Kimormor is a unique-integrated approach that consolidates multi-sectoral teams to bring health and civil services to underserved communities,” said Kipkorir Rotich, County One Health Coordinator. He noted that the model is not only effective but cost-efficient, with an average cost of Kshs 280 per person compared to nearly Kshs 1,000 in conventional outreaches.

Located more than 400 kilometres from Lodwar, Kibish Sub-County is home to largely nomadic pastoralist communities, many of whom remain unreached by routine services due to distance, mobility and lack of identification. Kimormor was designed precisely for such contexts.

“Kimormor is a unique model which has largely served Turkana County. We started here in Kibish in 2019 before this model was adopted across the county, and we are back where it started. Kimormor is about taking government services to the people,” said Dr Jacob Khaoya, Deputy Chief of Party at Amref Health Africa’s Imarisha Jamii Project. “This approach strengthens systems while restoring dignity,”

Integrated Health at the Doorstep

Medical teams provided outpatient care, Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), laboratory diagnostics, pharmacy services, eye care and health education. Immunisation teams reached 923 children, with 655 receiving vitamin A supplementation and 514 dewormed, many for the first time. Health workers identified zero-dose children and enrolled them into follow-up care, helping close long-standing immunisation gaps.

Expectant mothers, often unable to reach facilities unless complications arise, benefited significantly. A total of 118 mothers received antenatal care, while nutrition teams screened 664 children under five and 636 pregnant and lactating women. Of these, 154 children and 104 women were identified with malnutrition and immediately linked to treatment and supplementation.

“Expecting mothers rarely visit facilities unless it’s an emergency,” said Jacob Nakuleu, Kibish Sub-County Medical Officer of Health. “Kimormor allows us to reach them within their lifestyle and capture data that reflects the true population we serve,”

For women like Akai Lorupe, an expectant mother from Lorumor village, the outreach was life-changing. Screened for the first time, she learned she was nine months pregnant and received essential medication.
“I am happy I came today,” she said. “I feel safe now.”

Protecting livelihoods through animal health

Recognising livestock as the backbone of survival in Turkana, veterinary teams treated 1,002 sheep and goats, dewormed 17,000 more, and vaccinated 450 cattle against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Surveillance teams also trained Community Disease Reporters and monitored zoonotic risks.

“Animal health is public health in Turkana,” said Dr Eliah Lolem, County Animal Disease Surveillance Coordinator. “Seventy per cent of human infections originate from animals. If we protect livestock, we protect families,”

By integrating veterinary services with human health care, Kimormor ensured herders brought both their families and animals—maximising uptake and reducing cross-border disease transmission.

Restoring sight and preventing blindness

Eye-care teams led by Samson Lokele, Eye-care Services Coordinator, screened 415 people and conducted four life-changing Trachoma Trichiasis surgeries. Each procedure took about 10 to 15 minutes but prevented irreversible blindness.

“I will be able to see again,” said Erupe Epatakan, one of the beneficiaries. Eye-care coordinators reported progress toward Turkana’s goal of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem by 2027.

According to Lokele, “We have a team on the ground ready to carry out on-ground surgeries. In 2025, we have carried out about 70 surgeries, and we are committed to elimination of Trachoma Trichiasis in Turkana by 2027,”

Inclusion beyond health

Kimormor also tackled the structural barriers that lock communities out of services. Over 700 people registered for national ID cards, including elders receiving their first IDs at age 60. More than 800 people were enrolled into the Social Health Authority (SHA), while 163 Safaricom SIM cards were registered, with 136 of them newly registered, restoring mobile phones penetration and connectivity. Additionally, 75 birth notifications were completed.

“I am now recognised,” said Lomoru Aruth, a community elder from Olegech, holding his national ID slip. I am very happy today, I will have an ID for the first time in 60 years. This was possible because these services came close to us, as a herder, I would not be able to leave my livestock to go register for an ID,”

Thomas Lochuch, Principal registration Officer say these registrations will improve healthcare access, voter registration, planning and equitable resource allocation.

A model that works

Amref Health Africa officials emphasised that Kimormor begins with community engagement—consulting elders, mapping kraals and working through trusted local leaders to mobilise households.

“One Health is not a concept here—it is a lived reality,” said Dr Khaoya, “Since 2019, Kimormor has completed 21 cycles across Turkana, improving antenatal coverage from 53 per cent to 65 per cent and contributing to a sharp decline in maternal mortality.

Dr Khaoya further echoed the success of such Kimormor interventions, “Climate change, drought among others affect nutrition indicators straining resources, the acceptable rate is below five, and above 15 is critical. Turkana was at 26 which was beyond critical. Through continued screening of children, in 2024, data showed Turkana was around 21.4 and we intend to go below 15 through this multi-sectoral approach,”

As the outreach concluded, for communities long left behind, Kimormor proved that integrated services can reach the unreached, and change lives.

Story by: Esther Mwangi, Assistant Director, Public Communication and Media Relations