Lodwar, August 31, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Deputy Governor Dr John Erus today hosted a delegation from the World Food Programme (WFP) at the county headquarters in Lodwar. They discussed El Niño preparedness, ongoing humanitarian response programmes, the blue economy in Turkana and potential areas for expanding partnership.

The Deputy Governor listed protection of water infrastructure against surging water bodies as the area requiring the most immediate intervention, citing Borehole 9 and 5B as the prime targets.

“Going by past experiences when Turkana received the heaviest rains, the original Borehole 9 and 5 which supplied more than 70 per cent of Lodwar’s population were all swept away. Even the replacement boreholes suffered a similar fate in the subsequent rains. This is one area we have earmarked for anticipatory action,” he said.

Dr Erus further urged WFP to support the ongoing county-led Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme, saying the malaria burden was likely to increase during the El Niño period.

WFP Head of Area Office, Claudia Ah Poe, reiterated the organisation’s willingness to support the county during El Niño. She added that WFP would continue working hand in hand with the county on matters contributing to the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and upcoming missions by national and international WFP teams.

Claudia used the meeting to outline WFP interventions in Turkana, linking them to benefits associated with a better working environment, growth of youth entrepreneurs, establishment of a functional farmer service centre and production of nutritious and high-value crops at the Elelea farm.

The meeting was also attended and addressed by Chief Officers Jane rose Tioko (Partnerships), Peter Ikaru (Agriculture), Pauline Tangarae (Trade) and Agnes Mana (Preventive and Promotive Health) who also presented on priority areas requiring preparations against the oncoming heavy rains in the El-nino period.