New Groundwater Projects Advance to Tackle Water Scarcity in Turkana
Lodwar, 17 August 2026
On 17 August 2026, Turkana County and the World Bank reviewed progress on vital groundwater projects, revealing that the first batch of boreholes is now 37% complete.
Progress on Borehole Infrastructure
The collaborative effort between the Turkana County Government and the World Bank’s Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project (HoAGW4RP) has reached a critical evaluation point [1]. During a review meeting held in Lodwar on 17 August 2026, the World Bank delegation team leader, Dr James Origa, reported that the construction of the first batch of boreholes has achieved a progress rate of 37% [1]. Meanwhile, the second batch of boreholes is currently at 26% completion, meaning the progress gap between the first and second phases stands at 11 percentage points, with both phases expected to be completed in the coming months [1].
Strengthening Strategic Alliances
Addressing the assembly in Lodwar, County Secretary Dr Richard Ekai emphasised that managing groundwater investments sustainably is vital to meeting Turkana’s local development priorities [1]. Spanning approximately 77,000 square kilometres, Turkana is the second-largest county in Kenya by land area, making the logistics of water distribution highly complex [1]. James Long’ole, the County Executive Committee Member for Water Services, reiterated that the administration’s primary objective is to align these development partnerships with the daily realities and aspirations of nomadic communities [1]. The meeting was attended by key administrative and technical figures, including Simon Etom (CCO, Water Services), Paul Lotum (Director, Water Services), and Kelly Lemuya, the Managing Director of TUWASCO [1].
Demands for Financial Accountability
While these international water infrastructure investments proceed, the domestic financial management of Turkana County has come under intense scrutiny [2]. On 14 August 2026, just days prior to the World Bank review, Turkana Senator James Lomenen Ekomwa publicly addressed alleged financial mismanagement within the county’s administration [2]. The Senator questioned the transparency of local fund distribution, pointing out that despite three years of continuous national revenue disbursements from 2023 to 2026, local communities continue to suffer from severe neglect and a lack of visible development [2].
Ensuring Resources Reach the Grassroots
Senator Ekomwa argued that while he actively defends the county’s financial allocations in Nairobi, the funds fail to impact the lives of ordinary citizens once they reach local authorities [2]. He alleged that local administrative officials have been consuming public development funds in secret, rather than distributing resources equitably to individual households and pastoralist wards [2]. As Turkana County seeks to scale up its groundwater resilience projects, balancing infrastructural progress with strict financial transparency remains a central challenge for local leaders [1][2].