Agriculture Offices, July 1, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The former County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Michael Eregae, has on Tuesday taken over the Department of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries, with calls for the development of a strategic plan, to serve as a road map to key reforms in transforming food production and livelihoods in Turkana.
Speaking during the handover and takeover event, the incoming CEC said the Governor’s Agenda on Food Security should be a priority based on a plan that is results-oriented and positively impacts to the people.
“The flagship projects linked to boosting food security should have a plan on how to complete them soon so that Turkana people would reap benefits from them as required without further delay,” he said.
Governor’s agenda on food security in Turkana focuses on mitigating the impacts of drought and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
This includes allocating funds for relief food distribution, livestock feeds, and veterinary supplies. The county is also investing in irrigation projects and agricultural infrastructure to boost food production and enhance livelihoods.
Furthermore, the Governor is collaborating with the national government and other stakeholders to establish new markets for livestock and agricultural produce.
Notably, with veterinary background, Dr Eregae assured the staff of his consultative, ready to learn attitude, and transparency as his style of management that does not discriminate against any level of staff.
Once a County Chief Officer previously in the last regime, and now back as a County Executive, he said, the success of the food security docket will entirely depend on him tapping on the skills of the technical staff in the Department in full realization of food secure county now and in future.
Handing over Department’s leadership to his successor, outgoing County Executive, Wangiros Longole called for expansion of market linkages to boost agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors that contributes significantly on food security and economic development.
“This Department is a lifeline of the county’s economic prosperity and I am happy the agricultural policy is completed and awaits stakeholder validation moving forward,” Longole stated.
Additionally, he also called for operationalization of the tannery and Lomidat abbatoir to improve the economic lifeline of Turkana pastoralists.
CEC Longole moves to take charge of the Department of Trade, Gender and Tourism.
Presiding over the event, the County Secretary, Amb. Dr. Richard Ekai stated that the time to time reshuffle is part of county government’s broader effort to restore public trust, instill greater accountability and enhance service delivery.
The CS echoed Dr Eregae’s sentiment on effort on boosting food security in the County. He added that the Department needs to tap into the Lake Turkana’s potential, in a bid to transform water transport corridor between Turkana and Marsabit Counties, water sport, hospitality, enhancing on fish and livestock value chains, market linkages and investing on irrigation schemes.
The event comes two weeks after the Governor made changes to the County Executives and Chief officers last June, through an Executive Order No.5/2025.
Chief Officer David Maraka, Richard Lokoyan (Director,Irrigation and Land Reclamation), Aron Nanok (Director, Agriculture) and the Staff in the Department were all present during the event.
