Lodwar, February 25, 2026 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Turkana County will begin transferring functions relating to the municipalities in a move aimed at accelerating urban growth and unlocking funding under the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP) Phase II.
The commitment was made by Deputy Governor John Erus during a high-level multi-sector meeting that brought together the County Government, the World Bank, the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, UN-Habitat, UNHCR and the Department of Refugee Services.
The team was in Turkana for the mid-term review of the 2024–2028 cycle of the Kenya Urban Support Programme, a national initiative financed by the World Bank to strengthen urban governance and improve infrastructure in municipalities.
Dr Erus said the county was ready to facilitate the full transfer of functions to municipalities to enable them to operate independently and meet the programme’s minimum conditions for funding.
“The cabinet has resolved to fast track the transfer of functions revelant to the municipalities. There is a cabinet resolution to that effect directing the CECM for Lands and CECM for finance to act on the matter,” DG Erus said.
Acting Secretary for Urban Areas Management Engineer Byron Buyu described the commitment as taking the right trajectory towards orderly urban growth.
According to Buyu, such a move was key to assisting the new municipalities in Lodwar and Kakuma to avoid challenges currently facing developed cities such as Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa.
“If we do not take action today, some of the challenges such as congestion, garbage menace, blockage of water and sewerage systems and sprouting of unplanned buildings currently facing big cities will also find their way to Turkanas’ young municipalities,” he said.
He further observed that Turkana stands to benefit significantly once new municipalities gain autonomy following the transfer of functions, saying experience across the country shows revenue collections increase manyfold when municipalities are allowed to operate independently with clear mandates.
The need to fast track land conversion and adherence to the World Bank requirements for continuous funding was also discussed during the meeting with stakeholders resolving to cooperate in all undertakings.
The meeting was also addressed by County Secretary Dr Richard Ekai, CECMs Faith Aletia (Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Areas Management), Roseline Aite (Finance and Economic Planning, Chief Officers Robert Lotaruk (Finance) and Peter Lomorukai (Urban Areas Management).
Deputy County secretaries Joseph Nyang’a (Administration), Dr. Albert Gamoe (Cabinet Affairs), Ag County Solicitor Ekai Nabenyo, Director Administration office of the Governor Ruth Esekon, Deputy Municipality manager Simon Nangiro and Peterson Erus were present.
