Lodwar, June 25, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation Services hosted a team from the Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa (NAYA) for a two-day engagement aimed at strengthening meaningful youth engagement (MYE) in health programming in Turkana County.
The NAYA team, led by Sophie Safari and Evelyn Atieno, was received by the County Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health Coordinator, Dr. Fatuma Rajab. The purpose is to engage selected number of adolescents, youth, and other stakeholders including Maisha Youth Movement representatives from Turkana Colleges and Universities Students Associations (TUCUSA).
The engagement brought together senior County Health Management Team (CHMT) including Health, Gender and Youth, Children Services, and implementing partners. This was intended to review progress and develop strategies for strengthening adolescent and youth participation in decision-making processes within the health sector.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Rajab noted that the MYE guideline was developed to address long-standing gaps where young people were often treated only as beneficiaries of programs, rather than active contributors in shaping interventions affecting them.
She added that the challenge is more pronounced in the county due to the vast geographical coverage, predominantly youthful population, and persistent socio-economic and cultural barriers. These, she said limits young people’s access to platforms where they can freely voice their concerns and contribute to solutions.
“The guideline was necessary to provide clarity, standardize approaches, and ensure that youth engagement moves from being occasional and activity-based to being intentional, structured, and embedded within systems,” she stated.
The team acknowledged milestones already achieved despite this being an ASAL region. These include the establishment of functional Youth Friendly Centres at Nabulon and Lodwar County and Referral Hospital (LCRH), as well as the development of the County action plan 2025-2027 guiding on implementation framework.
Members noted that shifts in donor funding and the close-out of key support programs has affected implementation of some planned activities.The Health Department has since explored alternative partnerships that are supporting the establishment of additional youth-friendly centres in Kainuk and Lokichar within Aroo Sub-County in Turkana South.
Additionally, an increasing vulnerability among adolescents and youth was noted in areas such as Naduat, Kainuk, and Lokichar, where mining and related economic activities continue to attract large populations; exposing young people to heightened social and health risks.
The engagement further resolved that the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team at the department will lead the development of a comprehensive implementation framework to operationalize the action plan.
Participants also agreed to strengthen youth involvement through digital and social platforms, with the County ICT team tasked with establishing an online youth-friendly platform where adolescents and youth across the County can freely interact, access information, and share experiences.
Additionally, the meeting proposed activation of the County Integrated Youth Program (IYP) Technical Working Group comprising key stakeholders to spearhead coordination and follow-up of issues affecting adolescents and youth.
The forum also resolved to strengthen dissemination and implementation of the framework through establishment of IYP structures at sub-county level to serve as grassroots focal points for adolescent and youth engagement initiatives across Turkana.
