Turkana West Communities Demand Water Infrastructure in County's 2026/2027 Budget
Kakuma, 26 February 2026
Residents across Turkana West, including refugee populations in Kakuma, are pushing for prioritised water and irrigation projects in the upcoming county budget. Communities have specifically requested new borehole drilling, solar-powered water systems, and expanded irrigation infrastructure to support both host populations and refugees. The demands emerged during public participation sessions for the County Fiscal Strategy Paper on 25th February 2026, highlighting critical water access challenges in Kenya’s second-largest county covering 77,000 square kilometres.
Community Priorities for Budget Allocation
The public participation exercise brought together representatives from Kakuma, Lopur, Letea, Kalobeyei, and Nakalale wards, alongside village units, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities, and Turkana West professionals [1]. Residents specifically called for the drilling of new boreholes, solarisation and equipping of existing boreholes, and the construction of water kiosks as their top priorities [1]. The community also emphasised increased investment in irrigation to support farms in Mana na Naruwa, Lopur Ward, recognising the critical need to sustain both the host community and refugees [1]. Director for Budget Nicholas Mayo assured attendees that the county would align these priorities with revenue projections to build a sustainable plan for the 2026/2027 financial year [1].
Mental Health Services Expansion Amid Regional Challenges
Parallel to water infrastructure demands, Turkana County launched its first-ever Mental Health Council on 25th February 2026, following its gazettement in October 2025 [2]. The seven-member council will coordinate mental health interventions, guide policy, ensure service accessibility, and develop a strategic plan to address significant gaps in mental health provision [2]. County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Joseph Epem emphasised that the council must provide strong coordination of mental health interventions across the county and lead policy formulation for comprehensive service delivery [2]. The initiative addresses critical needs in a region facing intensified psychosocial stress due to drought, food insecurity, displacement, and substance misuse [2].
Healthcare System Optimisation and Registration Challenges
During a Turkana West data review meeting on 25th February 2026, Deputy Governor Erus challenged facility heads to maximise operational capacity, noting that improved service delivery could only be realised if healthcare facility leaders optimised available resources [3]. The county has invested heavily in health infrastructure and manpower, with leadership now demanding quality service provision to reverse a past characterised by preventable disease fatalities [3]. Dr Joseph Epem specifically highlighted social health registration as the weakest indicator in the republic, calling for collaborative efforts from all health sector players at grassroot level [3]. The low uptake of Social Health Authority registration is causing Turkana to lose millions of shillings from the exchequer, prompting directives for facility heads to reach unregistered populations [3].
Drought Response and Livestock Protection Measures
Loima Member of Parliament Protus Akujah has called upon Minister for Public Service and Community Services Geoffrey Ruku to ensure efficient distribution of relief food to drought-affected areas [4]. Speaking during the launch of food distribution in Turkana County on 24th February 2026, Akujah emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in transportation activities to ensure beneficiaries are reached on time and action taken against those who violate instructions [4]. The MP also urged the government to implement livestock vaccination programmes to prevent losses among pastoralists, particularly during dry seasons [4]. These measures reflect the interconnected challenges facing the region, where water scarcity affects both human populations and livestock that form the backbone of the local economy.