Turkana County Launches £93 Million Livestock Protection Programme Against Drought
Lodwar, 18 March 2026
Kenya’s second-largest county has partnered with international aid organisation Concern Worldwide to distribute emergency livestock support worth £93 million across drought-stricken pastoral areas. The programme will provide supplementary feeds, vaccines, and veterinary drugs to 300,000 animals across 14 hotspot areas, whilst delivering 6,600 bags of range cubes to 3,300 households. Governor Dr Jeremiah Lomorukai emphasises protecting breeding stock is critical for economic recovery once drought conditions improve. The initiative represents a shift towards anticipatory action, protecting livestock before communities face deeper crisis.
Strategic Distribution Across Drought Hotspots
The comprehensive programme, launched on 16 March 2026 at Mifugo Complex in Lodwar, targets 14 drought hotspot areas across Turkana’s vast 77,000 square kilometre territory [1]. The affected regions span all sub-counties: Turkwel and Lobei in Loima/Lokirima; Kaeris, Kaaleng, and Lapur in Turkana North; Kangatosa, Kerio Delta, and Kalokol in Turkana Central; Katilia and Lokori/Kochodin in Turkana East; Lopur and Letea in Turkana West; and Kalapata and Lokichar in Turkana South [1]. The County Government has committed to procuring 1,650 bags of supplementary feeds, veterinary vaccines, and drugs worth KSh 35 million [1]. Alongside this investment, Concern Worldwide will distribute 6,600 bags of range cubes to 3,300 households through their SERVE Project at a cost of KSh 58 million [1], representing a dual-pronged approach to livestock protection.
Veterinary Services Scale Unprecedented Treatment Campaign
The Department of Veterinary Services has set an ambitious target to reach 300,000 livestock for vaccination, deworming, supportive treatment, and vector control over a 10-day period [1]. This massive veterinary intervention builds upon previous national government support, which distributed 8,923 bales of hay to 4,461 households and 10,080 bags of 50-kilogram supplementary livestock feed to 10,080 households through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) [1]. The coordinated effort involved key officials including Turkana Central Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Kikorir, Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Benson Long’or, and Director of Livestock Production Bobby Ewoi, who attended the launch event [1]. Governor Lomorukai engaged staff from the Livestock Development and Fisheries departments on 15 March 2026, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to efficient and responsive service delivery [1].
Economic Rationale Behind Livestock Protection Strategy
The programme’s economic foundation rests on protecting Turkana’s pastoral economy, which depends entirely on livestock as the primary source of livelihood [1]. Governor Dr. Jeremiah Lomorukai emphasised that “protecting breeding stock during drought is critical for recovery once the situation improves,” noting that the intervention will “improve livestock body condition, boost milk production for household nutrition, and reduce mortality” [1]. This strategy addresses the immediate threat to animal health whilst safeguarding long-term economic resilience for pastoral communities who face recurring drought cycles that compromise both food security and income generation [1]. The focus on breeding stock preservation represents a calculated investment in the county’s future productive capacity, ensuring that pastoral families can rebuild their herds once environmental conditions stabilise.
Anticipatory Action Model for Regional Drought Response
Concern Worldwide’s approach reflects a strategic shift towards anticipatory humanitarian intervention rather than reactive crisis response. Isaac Echapan, Concern Worldwide Turkana Programme Manager, explained that “these interventions demonstrate our commitment to anticipatory action reducing the impact of drought before families are pushed deeper into crisis,” emphasising that “protecting livestock today safeguards nutrition, income, and resilience tomorrow” [1]. This methodology recognises that early intervention in drought conditions proves more cost-effective than post-crisis recovery efforts, whilst maintaining community dignity and self-sufficiency [GPT]. The combined investment of 93 million Kenyan shillings represents a substantial commitment to this preventative approach, targeting both immediate livestock needs and long-term community resilience across Turkana’s extensive pastoral areas [1].