Turkana County Triples Women's Employment in Push for Gender Equality
Lodwar, 6 March 2026
Kenya’s second-largest county demonstrates remarkable progress in women’s empowerment, increasing female employees from 453 to 1,251 whilst implementing 30% procurement quotas for women-led businesses. However, challenges persist as gender-based violence continues to affect communities across the 77,000 square kilometre region.
Record Employment Growth Marks International Women’s Day
The celebrations in Lodwar on 6 March 2026 brought together key stakeholders including ADRA Kenya, Kenya Red Cross Society, UNFPA, and Gender Watch Groups from 30 wards across Turkana County [1]. County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Gender and Tourism Wangiros James announced that the county government had tripled women employees from 453 to 1,251, representing a 176.159 per cent increase [1]. This dramatic expansion in female employment demonstrates the county’s commitment to the 2026 International Women’s Day theme ‘Give to Gain: Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls’ [1].
Economic Empowerment Through Procurement Policies
Beyond employment, Turkana County has implemented significant procurement reforms targeting women-led enterprises [1]. The County Government now reserves 30% of contracts for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, aligning with government affirmative action policies [1]. ‘Thirty per cent of this county’s contracts are awarded to women, in line with the government’s affirmative action policies aimed at enhancing economic empowerment and participation of women in development,’ Wangiros James stated during the commemoration [1]. This policy directly impacts the economic landscape of Kenya’s second-largest county, which covers 77,000 square kilometres in the north-western region [1].
Persistent Challenges in Gender-Based Violence
Despite remarkable progress in employment and economic participation, significant challenges remain in addressing gender-based violence across Turkana’s communities [1]. Eunice Ateyo, representing Friends of Lake Turkana, highlighted the ongoing nature of these issues during the International Women’s Day celebrations [1]. ‘Our goal of eliminating gender-based violence has not yet been achieved. Women and girls are still facing rape and forced marriages in some communities, and we must continue strengthening protection mechanisms and awareness,’ Ateyo emphasised [1]. This acknowledgement underscores the complex challenges facing both host communities and refugee populations in the region, where safety concerns affect all women and girls regardless of their status [GPT].
Policy Implementation Timeline and Future Commitments
Looking ahead, the Turkana County Government is working towards finalising and implementing the Turkana County Gender Policy before the end of 2026 [1]. Participants at the International Women’s Day event requested county government support for public participation across all wards to ensure successful policy implementation [1]. The celebration’s participants called for sustained advocacy, awareness creation, and effective policy implementation to ensure women’s rights are protected [1]. This timeline places significant importance on the remaining nine months of 2026 as a critical period for cementing gender equality gains in the county, with potential positive spillover effects for the broader regional community including refugee populations who share the same geographic and social spaces [GPT].