Kenya's Turkana County Strengthens Border Health Defences
Kakuma, 2 October 2026
Turkana County has extended its Ebola preparedness campaign and launched a 15-million-shilling livestock vaccination drive to secure its porous borders against cross-border disease outbreaks.
Expanding Border Health Safeguards
Building on previous initiatives that successfully trained 100 frontline staff to strengthen border surveillance [1], Turkana County has significantly broadened its biosecurity defences. Previously, the county focused on equipping healthcare workers to handle regional Ebola risks [1]. On 2 October 2026, the Turkana County Government, in collaboration with Amref Health Africa’s Imarisha Jamii and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Core Group Partners Project, announced a major extension of its Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) preparedness campaign [2]. The campaign, which was originally scheduled to conclude on 30 September 2026, has now been officially extended to 31 October 2026 to maintain crucial regional health security [2].
Securing Porous Borders Against Ebola
Turkana County is classified as a ‘very high risk’ zone for Ebola because it shares international borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, and hosts over 300,000 refugees across the Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements [2]. To address these vulnerabilities, the county has completed two simultaneous five-day sensitisation training programmes in Lodwar and Kakuma [2]. The initiative has trained 303 health workers virtually, alongside specialized cohorts including 57 officers on Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, 48 rapid response officers, 48 frontline workers, 45 surge team members, and 30 safe and dignified burial officers [2]. For local healthcare providers and community health promoters (CHPs) seeking to participate in these ongoing capacity-building sessions, registration and engagement can be accessed directly through the sub-county health management teams across all 12 sub-counties before the new 31 October 2026 deadline [2].
A Sh15 Million Shield for Pastoralist Livelihoods
In tandem with human health measures, the county launched a major veterinary intervention on 1 October 2026 to protect livestock, which form the economic backbone of the region [3]. Deputy Governor Dr John Erus flagged off the distribution of Sh15 million worth of veterinary drugs from the Mifugo Complex [3]. This free mass vaccination and treatment drive targets at least 850,000 livestock across five highly vulnerable sub-counties: Loima, Lokiriama, Turkana West, Turkana North, and Kibish [3]. The intervention is designed to curb Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Trypanosomiasis, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) following heavy animal migrations in search of pasture [3].
Accessing Free Veterinary Support
Local pastoralists in the five targeted sub-counties can access these free veterinary services directly through their local Community Disease Reporters (CDRs), who have recently completed refresher training to facilitate the rollout [3]. The distribution targets 25,000 cattle for vaccination against Lumpy Skin Disease and 100,000 sheep and goats against CCPP, benefiting approximately 1,900 pastoralist households [3]. The veterinary drive specifically targets a combined total of 125000 animals for these specific diseases within the broader livestock population [3]. Pastoralists are advised to present their herds at designated local vaccination sites coordinated by the field veterinary officers and CDRs in their respective sub-counties [3]. This campaign is supported by the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through VSF-Germany [3], ensuring that essential services reach border communities where cross-border movements increase disease transmission risks [3].