Kakuma Multipurpose Hall, April 27, 2026
(Public Communication and Media Relations)

Over 300 residents of Kakuma, the host and refugee communities have on Monday demanded bigger budgets for water and health sectors, calling them critical for the people of Turkana.

They spoke at a budget public hearing for FY’2026/2027, where residents, civil society organizations, special interest and professionals groups shared their views on the County Budget.

Melvine Arukudi, a resident of Lonyuduk village, Kalobeyei Ward, said her community struggled with water shortages for sometime now and needs county to help.

“As residents, we trek for kilometres for water for our use as our needs grow. We are asking our government to drill a borehole for us,” Arukudi emphasized.

She acknowledged there is a dispensary, but it needs fencing and lighting for them to get medical help at night.

Another participant, Alice Nangiro, said Nawotom village needs water infrastructure for people and livestock, to avoid drawing water from the river, 10 kilometres away from the village.

Nangiro added that the county should build a dispensary, since they rely on Natiira or Kalobeyei for medical care.

Wakilongo Elongo, a Congolese refugee, urges county government to invest in water to resolve longstanding shortages in Turkana West.

Water aquifers in Turkana mean government must find water for domestic and farming to enhance food security in Turkana West,” Elongo remarked.

He called water access and availability, a solution to food insecurity in Turkana, highlighting the need to easily integrate and be inclusive with the host community.

The County Chief Officer for Economic Planning, Samwuel Ekale explained why public involvement in budgeting process matters, and in aligning projects with community priorities.

“The budget-making process is key for citizens to influence public mobilization, allocation and prudent utilization. The budget is a tool for allocating money collected by the government either as taxes or borrowing to pay for planned government activities,” Ekale explained.

He called on administrators to sustain community engagement beyond the April 28, 2026 deadline to facilitate project implementation post-budget approval.

Attendees were drawn from Letea, Lopur, Nakalale, Kalobeyei, Kakuma Wards and Kakuma Refugee Community.

Economic planning team included; Vincent Ekutan, Jane Malala, and Stephen Louis Alos.

Administrators led by Zachary Etukon (Turkana West Deputy Sub-county) were present during the public hearing.