Loima, Central, North – February 26, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Loroo and Namorupus villages in Loima, the Naoros water project and Kangagetei village in Turkana Central, and Kaeris Dispensary with its Ng’ipidinga outreach site in Turkana North were the focus of a field monitoring visit this week, where the team assessed progress, engaged communities, and documented impact stories from ongoing health, nutrition and water interventions.

The multi-faceted team was reviewing progress of the Sustained Emergency Response and Recovery for the most vulnerable households (SERVE) project set to end in March, 2026. This project is jointly implemented by the County Government in collaboration with Concern Worldwide, Sapcone, and Lokado with funding from the United States Government. The visit brought together frontline health workers, community leaders, and beneficiaries to evaluate how SERVE has transformed lives.

Turkana’s vast and often harsh landscapes, where drought, distance, and limited infrastructure have long shaped vulnerability, the visit reaffirmed that when essential services reach the last mile, resilience grows and opportunity follows.

According to Moses Raminya, Programme Manager at Concern Worldwide, the organization is working in five sub-counties. “Our choice is based on the fact that they are the major malnutrition hotspots in the county. We aim to build the resilience of community members to cope with the drought situation in Turkana County,” he said.

Raminya clarified further that the objective of this trip was to interact with community members, have a feel of how they are coping with the current drought situation, and understand what can be done from the community perspective and also what kind of support they need to build their resilience in coping with the current drought situation.

“This current project targets children under the age of five years, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women who are most susceptible to the effects of drought,” he shared.

In Loroo and Namorupus villages, access to safe water has restored dignity and unlocked productivity. Women no longer spend hours trekking in search of water. Children are spending more time in school instead of walking in search of water. Kitchen gardens are improving household nutrition and food security.

“Before this project, water was our biggest burden. Now, we have time to farm, to care for our families, and to plan for tomorrow,” said one of the women elders from Loroo Village.

At the Naoros water project and in Kang’agetei village, pastoralist families reported reduced migration in search of water and pasture. This stability is helping keep children in school and protecting livestock, the backbone of the local economy.

The monitoring team further noted that improved water access has reduced tensions previously triggered by competition over scarce resources, contributing to peacebuilding and community cohesion.

The Chairlady of the Naoros Water Management Committee, Koli Tukei Epat, emphasized that community ownership has strengthened accountability and ensured sustainability of the project. She noted that local leadership has played a key role in protecting and maintaining the water system for the benefit of all households.

In Turkana North, the team visited Kaeris Dispensary and the Ngipidinga outreach site, where integrated health and nutrition services are reaching vulnerable households. Mothers and children received immunizations, antenatal care, nutrition screening, and health education directly within their locality.

Nutrition and Dietetics Deputy Director, Callis Elamach, reaffirmed the County’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare systems. He stated that expanding outreach services ensures equitable access to essential care for hard-to-reach populations and contributes to improved maternal and child health outcomes across the county.

“Our outreach coverage is only 24% out of 498 outreaches, leaving major gaps. While mass screening has identified priority locations and some support has come, many areas still need assistance. With drought conditions and limited funding, we must intensify responses like cash transfers, WASH, water trucking, and coordination,” he said.

Elamach added that currently, about 4,000 severely malnourished children, 17,000 moderately malnourished children, and 7,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are enrolled in treatment, yet an estimated 95,000 children require care, and the numbers are expected to rise.

Elamach also shared that the nutrition program is already managing thousands of severely and moderately malnourished children and women, but assessments show far more need treatment. “Ongoing drought and funding shortfalls are likely to drive malnutrition rates even higher, underscoring the urgent need for expanded support and coordinated response efforts,”

Turkana North Sub-County Nutrition Coordinator, Jemester Kakuta, highlighted that strengthened community-based screening and the scale-up of the IMAM programme across most health facilities have improved early detection and management of malnutrition. She noted that bringing services closer to communities has enabled more children and mothers in remote areas to access timely nutrition support.

Beyond water and healthcare, the visit also captured the impact of cash and nutrition assistance in cushioning vulnerable families during times of crisis.

Eboma Nayelei Loriu, Cash Assistance Beneficiary, shared how the support came at a critical moment for her family.

“Since this initiative started, I have received Kshs 5,000 twice. It came at a very important time because my child had been seriously injured. I used the money to buy food, and at that time my child had no ability to do anything. They really helped us a lot. Everything is okay now, and I am saying thank you. May God protect you,” she added.

Her testimony reflects how timely social protection support shields families from sliding deeper into vulnerability during emergencies.

Rikamo Kiyonga, a Community nutrition beneficiary, also expressed gratitude for the nutrition support her household received.

“I received the support and it really helped me, and I am saying thank you. Previously my livestock were dying due to some mistake in the way things were done, but since you brought those supplements, they have been very helpful to the child, and now he/she is healthy. I am very thankful to the leaders of this support.”

Her story underscores the impact of targeted nutrition interventions in restoring child health and strengthening household resilience.

Speaking during the visit, Ian Kinyanjui, Senior Area Coordinator at Concern Worldwide, underscored the broader national and global significance of the initiatives underway in Turkana.

“What is happening here reflects global priorities such as universal health coverage, water security, and climate resilience. When we invest at the community level, we are contributing to national development goals and advancing global commitments to sustainable development,” he said.

James Ebogon, Coordinator for Humanitarian and Emergency Responses at Sapcone, said the cash transfer programme supports 804 households across 23 sites, targeting families identified through malnutrition criteria. He noted that beneficiaries receive three cash transfer cycles and that feedback indicates the support has been timely and impactful, with expectations of improved recovery rates among malnourished children.

Present were delegation from the United States Embassy, Nellie Kingston (Country Director, Concern Worldwide), Wallace Kasambeli (Head of Programme, Sapcone), Augustine Akai (Executive Director, Lokado).

The monitoring visit demonstrated that progress is evident in reduced distances to water sources, improved school attendance, safer pregnancies, healthier children, and strengthened household stability. Water access is reducing conflict and displacement, while outreach health and nutrition services are protecting vulnerable populations.

However, significant gaps remain as prolonged dry spells continue to strain remote communities. Outreach teams require additional logistical support, medical supplies, and staffing to consistently reach dispersed villages.

The County Government is therefore calling for expanded investment in water infrastructure, mobile and outreach health services, nutrition programming, and climate-resilient systems to safeguard gains and protect vulnerable populations from recurring drought shocks.

Story by: Esther Mwangi, Assistant Director, Public Communications and Media Relations