Lodwar|June 3, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The County Government and Veterinaires Sans Frontieres (VSF) Germany, have planned to vaccinate 975,000 livestock against transboundary diseases like PPR, CCPP and Lumpy Skin Diseases (LSD) in Turkana’s border areas.
Of 975,000 livestock, 850,000 sheep and goats will get PPR vaccine, 100,000 goats will get CCPP jab and 25,000 cattle will be vaccinated against LSD.
This follows a county’s Participatory Disease Surveillance (PDS) which identified sites for targeted cross-border livestock vaccination in Turkana North, West, Lokichoggio, Lokiriama and Kibish.
The new Project, Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Africa (PLACE) is a six-month project funded by European Union through Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of United Nations and implemented by VSF-G.
PLACE will vaccinate, treat and deworm livestock in Kibish, Lokichoggio, Turkana North, West, and Loima/Lokiriama. It will also develop Longiding water pan in Nanam Ward.
The Livestock Development and Fisheries Chief Officer, Hon Peter Ikaru said the partnership with VSF-G is timely and welcomed, especially when livestock are clustered in specific known areas.
“This partnership is timely. With the cattle kraals set and adequate pasture, we will secure our livestock and hit our targets,” he said.
Hon Ikaru added the county’s support include; technical team, logistics, 250,000 doses of PPR and 25,000 LSD vials, 200 vials antibiotics, 400 litres of dewormers, and equipment.
He stressed communities must sustain and own projects for long-term impact beyond implementation period.
Janerose Tioko, Chief Officer for Resource Mobilization, Partnerships and Donor Coordination praised FAO and VSF-G for their long-term work in livestock development, water and livelihood projects in Turkana.
She noted, “the partnership of PLACE under VSF-G and other development partners aligns to the Governor’s Agenda on collaboration and strategic partnership.
Tioko revealed, “We are mapping all the partners, projects and areas they cover and the VSF-G is part of this..
This, she said, will help the county coordinate and account for the partner’s activities for holistic approach to development.
The Partnership CCO urged VSF-G to involve Project Implementation Team (PIT) to site handover to the contractor as well as project handover to the community. She also stressed monitoring and evaluation during project period.
The Veterinary Services Deputy Director, Dr Erenius Nakadio said through PDS, has identified the following areas as possible target areas for livestock vaccination: Loya, Kokilokit and Urum in Lokiriama, Nasekona/Lokipoto, Naporoto/Nawontos/Oropoi, and Nakitongo/Loreng in Turkana West, Kapetadie, Ngipatio and Loteteleit in Lokichoggio, Natapar, Natodomeri/Kuras and Liwan in Kibish, Merikuka, Nakinu/Lowoluk, and Ogelech in Turkana North.
“FAO will keep working with County Government and VSG-G to rensure the project succeeds,” said Dr Daniel Irura, FAO Livestock Specialist.
“ VSF-G will protect livestock assets, build pastoral economies, conserve biodiversity, reduce conflict, and enhance peaceful coexistence under PLACE,” Peter Mutevu, the Project Manager said.
Moreover, Mutevu said FAO will support vaccination by supplying 600,000 doses of PPR vaccine, 100,000 doses of CCPP vaccine, 2,500 litres of dewormers, 500 litres of acaricide and assorted veterinary drugs.
During the meeting, a concern of an emerging case of a disease locally known as “Lokungin“, a disease severely which affects the knees of goats and sheep, but rarely affects cattle, was raised.
“Emerging from Kapetadie kraals in Nanam Ward, Lokichoggio Sub-County, the community has persistently claimed and reported that the disease is slowly decimating livestock,” Veterinary Doctors reported.
According to Dr Elia Lolim, County Veterinary Officer, he said clinical presentations include; swelling of the joints, fever, pain on physical examination, lameness, swelling on the genitalia for females and swelling of the testicles for males. Anorexia, signs of paralysis and weakness, then death are reported.
He said the just concluded PDS report revealed that the situation is worsening and a team of investigators from the Veterinary Services Department will be sent to collect samples for proper confirmatory diagnosis in the County and Eldoret Veterinary Investigative Laboratory.
Present during the planning meeting were; Raphael Logum (Director, Resource Mobilization), John Eipa (Livestock Production), Mbotela William (Environment), Reinhard Wamjala (Water Services), Richard Kayi (NDMA) and Lolimo Francis (VSF-G).
