Turkana County Introduces New Rules for International Aid Organisations
Lodwar, 28 February 2026
Kenya’s second-largest county implements fresh regulatory framework for humanitarian groups serving 800,000 refugees and local populations across 77,000 square kilometres of northwestern territory.
World NGO Day Celebrates Regulatory Transition
Turkana County Government marked World NGO Day on 27 February 2026 in Lodwar, with the transition to new regulations under the Public Benefits Organizations (PBO) Act of 2013 taking centre stage [1]. The ceremony operated under the theme ‘Stronger Together: Sustaining Protection and Livelihood Gains through Partnerships’ and was supported by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and convened by the Public Benefits Regulatory Authority (PBORA) [1]. The event brought together national and county government officials alongside development and humanitarian partners to address the regulatory changes affecting organisations operating across Kenya’s second-largest county [1].
Scale of Humanitarian Operations in Turkana
Principal Administrative Secretary for Interior and National Coordination, Jacob Narengo, highlighted that Kenya currently hosts more than 800,000 refugees, with numerous NGOs providing both humanitarian and development services to this population [1]. Turkana County, covering 77,000 square kilometres in northwestern Kenya, serves as a critical hub for these operations [1]. The county’s strategic position as the northwesternmost region in Kenya makes it particularly significant for refugee assistance and cross-border humanitarian work [1].
County-Led Mapping and Coordination Efforts
Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus announced that Turkana County is actively mapping all NGOs operating within its boundaries to ensure their interventions align with county priorities and create sustainable impact [1]. According to Dr. Erus, the county has implemented new requirements mandating that NGO operations must be streamlined within specific sectors or value chains that contribute to the realisation of county priorities [1]. The deputy governor emphasised the need for revenue disclosure from NGOs, stating this measure would enable authorities to measure the impact of interventions against budgets and provide guidance on fund utilisation [1].
Regulatory Authority’s Transition Strategy
Dr. Laxmana Kiptoo, Director General of PBO-RA, explained that the transition from the initial NGO Coordination Act to the current Public Benefit Organizations Act was deliberately designed to emphasise transparency, partnership, and sustainability [1]. The regulatory authority pledged to work closely with NGOs to strengthen compliance with new laws during the transition period whilst avoiding service breaks and disruptions [1]. Simon Nzioka, Country Director for Danish Refugee Council, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting the regulatory framework, noting that PBO-RA had created an enabling environment for development actors to operate alongside county and national government authorities [1]. The World NGO Day event also featured NGOs showcasing their products and innovations, alongside conducting dialogue on county-to-county and border area peace initiatives [1].