Kakuma, March 4, 2026 (Governor’s Press Service)
Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has called for increased long-term development financing and stronger private sector engagement to support sustainable refugee integration and host community resilience.
Dr. Erus made the remarks during a meeting with the World Bank’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Mission to Kenya, led by FCV Advisor Xavier Devictor. The delegation is assessing forced displacement programming and resilience investments in the country.
The DG underscored Turkana’s unique position as host to Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, home to over 300,000 refugees and asylum. He described forced displacement in Turkana as a long-term development reality that requires sustainable, government-led systems rather than short-term humanitarian responses.
He reaffirmed the county’s support for the Refugees Act 2021 and the national Shirika Plan, particularly on service harmonisation, local integration and inclusion of refugees in county planning frameworks.
However, he stressed that development financing must increasingly strengthen county government systems to ensure sustainability and accountability.
“There must be reciprocal investment in Turkana West to unlock economic potential and enable the county government to deliver services effectively,” Dr. Erus said.
He highlighted growing pressure on land, water, pasture, schools and health facilities due to population growth and climate change, noting the close link between displacement and climate vulnerability in the arid region.
The Deputy Governor called for scaling up livelihood investments, market access and financial inclusion to reduce dependency. He argued that without strong private sector participation, the socio-economic goals of the Shirika Plan may not be realised, proposing a greater role for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in driving that pillar.
He cited the Kakuma-Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF) as a working model for inclusive economic growth. KKCF Senior Operations Officer Luba Shara said the fund has invested $12 million, matched by private businesses, and supported enterprise development across the settlement and host communities.
UNHCR Representative Robil Ellis and Kakuma Sub-Office Head Santeesh Nanduri reaffirmed partnership with the county government, noting opportunities in agriculture and livestock value chains supported under KISEDP.
Nanduri said over 8,000 acres of arable land and more than 600,000 livestock present significant economic potential, but called for additional water investments to unlock productivity.
Devictor emphasised the need to transition from dependency-driven aid models to productive local economies anchored on viable value chains and job creation.County Executive for Lands Faith Aletea informed the delegation that the county has initiated processes for land allocation to accommodate the growing refugee population, alongside ongoing community engagement.
Senior county officials present included Deputy County Secretary Joseph Nyang’a and Kakuma Municipality Manager Peter Emuria.
