Mifugo Complex| July 6, 2026
(Public Communication and Media Relations)
Pastoralists in Elelea in Turkana East, Karoge in Turkana South and Lokapel in Aroo, are set to get the first targeted vaccination and supportive treatment after the strategic partnership between the County Government of Turkana and GENCO Livestock and Fresh Meat Export Ltd.
The Project targets 100,000 livestock in first round, bringing benefits to those areas for the first time, despite missed vaccination campaigns before.
Peter Ikaru, the Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture welcomed the partnership saying it aligns with Governor’s Agenda of collaboration and strategic partnerships.
“This partnership fills the gaps in targeted vaccination and supportive treatment. I am sure livestock keepers in these areas will be impressed by this action, after missing in other previous interventions,” said Chief Ikaru.
Recognizing the significant role such vaccination drives play, he said, will ultimately to create disease free zones across the county.
Livestock CCO said there is need for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for formal County-GENCO partnership moving forward.
While excited about the partnership, the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Benson Long’or said the scarce resources meant these areas missed vaccination drives, till now.
“We have primarily targeted Elelea, Karoge, Lokapel and nearby surroundings for the exercise, owing to the fact most livestock are now concentrated in major water and grazing points in those areas and past gaps in interventions,” said Dr Long’or.
The 15-day exercise, Director Long’or noted, should focus on animals with Pestes des Petitis Ruminantes (PPR), CCPP and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
He further championed for the One Health Strategy, highlighting impact it has created by taking essential services closer to the people. The Director urged the Company to prioritize it for the grassroot impact..
Doreen Gacheri, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the GENCO Livestock and Fresh Meat Export Ltd thanked the County for the partnership, saying Turkana County has one of Kenya’s largest pastoral livestock populations.
“Our choice for Turkana is livestock is the primary source of livelihoods for many households in the county. For this reason, the county has significant potential for quality livestock production to supply both domestic and export markets,” she said.
The CEO said the four-year Project supports the interventions that improve livestock productivity, market access, and pastoralist livelihoods.
She said the Company will support the County Veterinary Department to roll-out livestock vaccination programmes., provide supportive animal health treatments and train livestock keepers on disease prevention and animal health management.
On MoU, Gacheri said her team will start the process., once complete, sign with the County soon.
Dr Erenius Nakadio (Deputy Director, Veterinary Services), Valentine Chebet (Programme Manager, GENCO Ltd) and John Ebei attended the meeting.
