Lodwar, April 21, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has called for strengthened collaboration between Turkana County and the United States Government, outlining key development priorities during a courtesy visit by the United States Chargé d’Affaires to Kenya Susan Burns.
Speaking in Lodwar, Dr. Erus acknowledged the longstanding support Turkana has received from US-funded programs, noting that the interventions have significantly improved service delivery and livelihoods across the county.
Citing investments in health, nutrition, water, disaster response, agriculture, livestock development, education and social protection DG Erus said there had been measurable gains over the years for both host and the refugees.
He however cautioned that emerging challenges and funding gaps now threaten to reverse some of the progress made.Deputy Governor pointed to rising cases of malnutrition, a surge in malaria infections, and increasing protection risks as areas requiring urgent attention.
At the same time, he said immunization coverage has declined to below 75 percent following the scaling down of some donor-supported programs, underscoring the need for renewed and sustained partnerships.
According to Dr. Erus, the County Government is prioritizing support in critical sectors including water access, health and nutrition, social protection, livestock development, agriculture, disaster response, education, and host-refugee integration under the Shirika Plan, emphasizing that Turkana remains open to new partnerships that align with its development agenda.
County officials who addressed the meeting highlighted the need to revitalize livestock development programs, strengthen rangeland management, enhance livestock diseases control and promote diversification of livelihoods to poultry farming, beekeeping, trade and artisanal mining.
In her remarks, the Charge d’Affaires reaffirmed the United States Government’s commitment to supporting humanitarian and development initiatives in Turkana noting that additional assistance funds are being processed, particularly for humanitarian response, emphasizing the need to align future engagement with the County’s priorities.
She said the US Embassy is keen to structure its partnership with Turkana over the next five years based on locally identified needs, adding that collaboration in the health sector remains a key focus area.
