Kainuk, January 23, 2026 (Governor’s Press Service) — Governor Dr. Jeremiah Lomorukai on Friday joined the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), Beatrice Askul, at Kainuk during a public participation forum on the proposed Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project.Residents, led by elected leaders and professionals from the area, urged the government to prioritise the resolution of long-standing conflicts that have affected the region for decades. They called for transparency in the project’s implementation and warned that persistent insecurity could undermine its success.
CS Askul briefed residents on the scope of the project and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its implementation. She said a subsequent meeting would bring together the Turkana and West Pokot communities to deliberate on the project’s rollout and ensure inclusive participation.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged parents to ensure children return to school in line with President William Ruto’s directive, assuring residents that the government is developing comprehensive strategies to address insecurity in conflict-prone areas.
She further revealed that the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) remains focused on advancing the food security agenda and will make additional investments in identified areas to boost agricultural production and enhance food security in Turkana.
In his remarks, Governor Lomorukai said the county leadership is keen to ensure that food security initiatives directly benefit local communities. He pledged to convene more public forums on development projects and disclosed that similar engagements, including meetings with Members of Parliament in Nairobi, have been held to attract investors to Turkana County.
Dr. Lomorukai acknowledged the persistent challenges of hunger and poverty in ASAL regions, noting that leaders must embrace development interventions that alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace-building efforts to promote peaceful coexistence between Turkana communities and their neighbours, and appealed for the deployment of additional security personnel along strategic corridors in Aroo Sub-County to curb insecurity.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development, Kello Harsama, said the President had directed the ministry to maximise the utilisation of available water resources to enhance food production.
Also present were West Pokot County Commissioner David Ntawuasa and Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita.
Those in attendance included County Executive Committee Members Dr. Michael Eregae (Agriculture), Dr. Joseph Epem (Health), Wiljustus Akwalata (Water), Faith Aletea (Lands), and Roseline Aite (Finance).
