Government and development partners commit to joint drought response during Stakeholders’ Roundtable

LODWAR, TURKANA COUNTY – Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai hosted Governors Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Benjamin Chesire Cheboi (Baringo), and Jonathan Lelelit (Samburu), as well as partners led by UNICEF Representative to Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer.

In his speech, the Governor provided an update on the ongoing relief efforts by the County Government and appealed for support . “In the first phase of relief distribution, we distributed a total of 5,770 metric tonnes of relief food, benefiting approximately 664,824 residents.

In the second phase, we intend to distribute 2,600 metric tonnes of assorted food to a targeted population of 695,232 people, which translates to 115,872 households,” he said.

The delegates visited the Lodwar County Referral Hospital, where they observed the treatment of children with malnutrition, including the stabilization centre for severely malnourished children and the outpatient service for those in recovery.

They also visited a solar-powered water system at Natiir village, which provides safe water for a primary school, dispensary, and the local community.

Another team visited the integrated outreach site at Nakadukui village, where health workers provide nutrition screening of children, health supplies, and other services for people living far from health care facilities.

The Governor thanked UNICEF, other UN agencies, and donor countries for their support in nutrition, food, water, health, and education.

Secretary, Ministry of EAC and ASALs, and Regional Development Maria Kipkenei Cherono, who represented Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, read the CS’s speech.

In the speech, she commended counties and development partners for their collaboration to address drought and implement programs.

The Secretary stated that the National Government had prioritized water development to address the shortage of water for domestic use, livestock, and irrigation.

She said drought interventions need to be integrated and multi-sectoral, and nexus to be put on the humanitarian and development approach.

Governor Lelelit urged partners to support counties in recovery efforts in the short term and to help build the resilience of communities in the long term.

West Pokot Governor Kachapin value the support from donor organizations and admitted that great progress had been made through implementing programs in the counties. “Governments alone cannot solve all our problems where we receive insufficient rainfall.

As we find short-term solutions, it is possible to make ASALs areas self-sufficient,” he said, adding that the drought had contributed to the insecurity situation in the Northrift.

Governor Cheboi urged all stakeholders to work together with governments to avoid project duplication.

Ms. Nilofer said, “It will take at least a year for families to recover their lost livelihoods and for the nutrition situation of children to stabilize. I would urge international donors to continue this life-saving support until we have built long-term resilience, and all children in Kenya are out of the danger zone.”

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