Lodwar, 16th September 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government of Turkana has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening land governance and enforcing compliance in the mining sector, in collaboration with development partners.

Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus made the remarks during a meeting with representatives from the Kenya Oil and Gas Working Group (KOGWG), Solidaridad, Geomine Consultancy and the association of artisanal miners in Turkana currently conducting a participatory monitoring assessment of land governance and artisanal mining programs across Turkana.

Dr. Erus said the county was witnessing increased activity in the extractives economy due to recent announcements signalling return to oil exploration and, the recent cadastral mapping that confirmed Turkana as a minerals-rich region.

The delegation also held separate meetings with County Executive for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Areas Management, Faith Aletia, and Director of Mining, Merimug Eloto.

In the meeting with the Deputy Governor, the team presented findings from field assessments and exchanged views on how artisanal mining could be better harnessed to support community livelihoods.

Discussions with CECM Aletia focused on strengthening land governance structures, particularly the formation and operationalization of Community Land Management Committees (CLMCs).

Previous engagements between the County and the partners had resulted in the formation of CLMCs to enhance land governance, the establishment of cooperative societies to organize entry into artisanal mining activities, and awareness campaigns on licensing compliance as a prerequisite for participation in the extractives economy.