Merier, Kerio, 24th July 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations

The County Government of Turkana, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), has visited all 41 Beach Management Units (BMUs) along the shores of Lake Turkana to assess their viability for strategic infrastructure development.

The visit, conducted under the Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana project, aimed to prioritise landing sites for infrastructure such as jetties, fish bandas, and related facilities.

The goal is to improve the livelihoods of fishing communities and conserve the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

The project is a multi-agency initiative led by WFP and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with funding from the Government of the Netherlands.

It focuses on enhancing food security, boosting local economies, and promoting sustainable use of Lake Turkana’s resources. The approach is community-driven and leverages local knowledge and capacity.

Leading the delegation, Chief Officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Evans Lomodei, underscored the need for evidence-based data on all landing sites to guide the sustainable development of lake resources.

Speaking at Merier landing site, Lomodei stated, “The fisheries sector will continue working closely with the national government and our partners to ensure that the challenges of low fish diversity and under-utilisation of lake resources are addressed sustainably for the benefit of the Turkana people.”

The five-day exercise, supported by WFP, aims to develop recommendations that will inform future planning and interventions at the landing sites to boost food security in the region.

Officials present during the visit included Senior Fisheries Officer Bett John, County Civil Engineer Machoka Osoro, and WFP representatives Victor Kemei and Augustinella Loiton.