Turkana governor Josphat Nanok has called on Kenyans to stop bullying and urges for positive criticism.
He pointed at the high poverty levels as a major cause of most challenges facing residents and said that six years of devolution was not enough time to completely end challenges that have existed for decades with no effort to solve them before devolution.
The Governor was speaking today in Nakukulas, Turkana East Sub when he led residents to mark World Water Day.
He urged the media to allow Turkana leaders who had a better understanding of the plight faced by residents to express their views on the issues that faced the people rather than invite “experts” with only an academic understanding of what residents face and possible solutions.
He said residents of Turkana were aware of the efforts his administration had put to provide solutions to challenges faced and they appreciated where more needed to be done.
In his address, the Governor outlined the County Government’s investment in the water sector and laid out drought response measures to residents experiencing water stress.
These include water trucking to communities in water stress; routine repairs of boreholes, equipping and upgrading high yielding boreholes; desilting pans and rock water catchment.
He said the County Government was also carrying out feasibility surveys for dams in Lokwanamor, Kadokorinyang, Lomelo and Kalemng’orok whose construction he said will require the support of the National Government or other partners.
On other relief responses, Governor Nanok assured that the County Government had put in place measures to support residents facing food stress and those whose food security conditions were deteriorating for the next three months, in the event the March-April rains fail.
The cultivation of 10,000 acres of land is also ongoing across the county, in preparation for planting when in the rainy season. He said 11 tractors had been dispatched for the cultivation with at least other four tractors expected from Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu County Governments.
On land acquisition for development in South Lokichar oil basin, the County boss said the County Government was seeking to stop implementation of the National Land Commission (NLC) Gazette notice through ongoing court cases, to pave way for consultation with all stakeholders and set right procedure to acquire the land.
Other leaders who spoke cautioned residents of efforts by individuals and organisations to profit from the Turkana drought by organising funds drive that never benefit residents of the county.
Turkana East MP Ali Lokiru commended the National and County Governments for relief efforts and announced that a relief consignment of 500 bags of beans and 300 bags of maize for Lokori/Kochodin from the National Government to victims of recent livestock raids in the area.
Turkana South MP James Lomenen termed rogue humanitarians as “drought terrorists” taking advantage of the drought situation to make money. He gave an example of Kenya Red Cross Society which he accused of never coming clean on how money raised through the Kenya for Kenyans initiative was used.
Others who spoke include County Executive for Water Services Emathe Namuar, MCA’s led by host Benedict Lokamar, former MP Nicholas Ng’ikor among others.