KAKUMA— United Nations agencies have pledged to strengthen their support for Turkana County’s development priorities following a three-day joint visit to Kakuma and Kalobeyei by UN Heads of Agencies.
The visit, which ended on September 4, 2026, was led by Turkana County Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus and brought together 14 UN Heads of Agencies and programme leads.
The delegation was led by Dr. Garry Conille, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and Fatima Mohammed Cole, UNHCR Kenya Representative. The team held engagements with county and national government officials, including County Commissioner Julius Kavita and Mercy Mwasaru, OGW, Acting Commissioner for Refugee Affairs.
The UN team committed to aligning its support with priorities identified by the county and national governments, particularly in improving public services, promoting sustainable livelihoods and strengthening relations between refugees and host communities.
A major focus of the discussions was the Government-led Shirika Plan, which seeks to replace parallel humanitarian service delivery with an integrated development approach that is anchored in county systems.
In Turkana, the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP) remains a key framework for advancing county-led investments under this approach.
“No single agency can deliver the Shirika Plan alone. Our role as the UN Country Team is to listen to the county, the Government, and communities, and align our mandates behind their priorities. What we’ve seen in Kakuma and Kalobeyei will guide coordinated support that strengthens county-led systems while meeting the ongoing needs of refugees and host communities,” said Dr. Conille.
Dr. Erus said the inclusion of refugees in Turkana’s development agenda should result in improved public services, infrastructure and economic opportunities for both refugees and host communities.
“For Turkana County, refugee inclusion must translate into stronger public services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities for both refugees and host communities. Through the Shirika Plan, KISEDP, and its ASPIRE Roadmap for 50 by 35, our county has an opportunity to build on progress made, strengthen county-led systems, and attract investment that creates jobs and drives development across Turkana,” said Dr. Erus.
The visit also provided the UN agencies with an opportunity to assess lessons from KISEDP and gain a deeper understanding of Turkana County’s development priorities.
The engagements are expected to strengthen coordination between the UN, county and national governments as the implementation of the Shirika Plan continues at the county level.
