LODWAR— More than 2,800 girls and young women in Kakuma Refugee Camp and surrounding host communities are set to benefit from reusable menstrual health kits in a new programme targeting period poverty and school absenteeism.

The Turkana County Government, in partnership with Days for Girls Kenya, will distribute 2,826 washable menstrual health kits alongside menstrual health education between now and December.

The initiative targets girls and young women from both refugee and host communities, with the organisers seeking to improve menstrual hygiene while reducing health risks associated with the use of unhygienic materials.

Speaking during a stakeholder meeting with Days for Girls Kenya in Lodwar on August 31, 2026, Turkana Deputy Governor Dr John Erus said the programme would help address challenges that continue to affect vulnerable girls.

Dr Erus also called for strict adherence to national guidelines on menstrual health education and directed Days for Girls Kenya to engage the County Directorate of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation to have its activities captured in KIMIS, the county’s information management system for development partners working in the refugee setting.

“The programme will address period poverty, school absenteeism and reproductive health risks among some of our most vulnerable learners,” Dr Erus said.

Under the distribution plan, 1,130 kits, representing 40 per cent of the total, will be distributed through schools, while 1,696 kits will reach beneficiaries through health facilities and community-level interventions.

Days for Girls Kenya Project Manager Annete Muchendiza said the programme would combine provision of menstrual products with education to help create a supportive environment for girls.

“It is our belief that the programme will help create a period-positive environment, not only in our schools but also in communities, especially those in the refugee setting at Kakuma and Kalobeyei,” Muchendiza said.

She said the programme would also involve men and boys in menstrual health discussions to encourage greater support for girls and young women.

Muchendiza said distributing the kits through schools and health facilities would enable the programme to reach both school-going and out-of-school girls.

“The inclusion of schools and health facilities was intentional, to capture both school-going and out-of-school girls and reduce the risk of infection arising from the use of unhygienic materials,” she said.

Before the rollout, Days for Girls Kenya will conduct stakeholder meetings at sub-county level across Turkana West to prepare communities and institutions for the programme.

The initiative comes a month after the County Government and Days for Girls Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving menstrual and postpartum health outcomes in the region.

Days for Girls Kenya has previously implemented menstrual health advocacy programmes in Turkana through local implementing partners. The latest programme marks a direct partnership between the organisation and the County Government.

TURKANA – Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Turkana, Peter Ikaru, has said the county is stepping up efforts to control rabies and hydatidosis through a new vaccination campaign targeting zero rabies cases.

Starting Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the initiative brings together the county government and key partners to combat these diseases under the One Health approach. Ikaru commended past efforts by stakeholders like the Kenya Women Veterinary Association (KWVA), which saw 185 pets vaccinated in August 2025, emphasizing that joint collaboration is key to achieving their eradication goals.

County Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Benson Long’or, highlighted that over 10 local and international partners are supporting the exercise in line with Kenya’s strategy to eliminate human rabies by 2030. In addition to mass vaccinations, the itinerary includes pet spaying and neutering, donkey welfare activities in Kapua, and mentorship programs at Napetet Girls Primary School and Turkana University College, where the project will close on September 3. Deputy Director Dr. Erenius Nakadio confirmed that fully equipped stations for registration, surgery, recovery, and sample collection are already operational.

The campaign also coincides with an official inspection by the National Director of Veterinary Services. The National Director will evaluate the strategically located County Veterinary Laboratory to ensure compliance for serving the North Rift region and neighboring countries, including South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Additionally, the visit will assess the Naurenpuu tannery to gauge its potential for boosting the local hides and skins value chain.

TURKANA – Turkana Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has held discussions with a delegation from the World Food Programme (WFP) on El Niño preparedness and expansion of cooperation between the organization and the county government.

Dr. Erus hosted the delegation at the county headquarters in Lodwar where talks centred on anticipatory action for El Niño, ongoing humanitarian response, the blue economy and areas for expanded partnership aligned to the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).

Priority was placed on protecting water infrastructure. The Deputy Governor identified Boreholes 9 and 5B as requiring immediate intervention, recalling that previous heavy rains swept away Boreholes 9 and 5 that supplied more than 70 percent of Lodwar town, with replacements also destroyed.

“Going by past experiences when Turkana received the heaviest rains, the original Borehole 9 and 5 which supplied more than 70 per cent of Lodwar’s population were all swept away. Even the replacement boreholes suffered a similar fate in the subsequent rains. This is one area we have earmarked for anticipatory action,” he said.

He also asked WFP to support the county-led Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme, noting the malaria burden is likely to increase during the El Niño period.WFP Head of Area Office Claudia Ah Poe reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to support the county during the period and to continue close collaboration on CIDP priorities.

“We will continue working closely with the county government on matters contributing to the County Integrated Development Plan,” she said, adding that engagement will continue during upcoming missions involving national and international WFP teams.

She outlined WFP interventions in Turkana including improving the working environment, supporting youth entrepreneurs, establishment of a functional farmer service centre and production of nutritious and high-value crops at Elelea farm.

The meeting was attended by Chief Officers Jane Rose Tioko (Partnerships), Peter Ikaru (Agriculture), Pauline Tangarae (Trade) and Agnes Mana (Preventive and Promotive Health) who presented sector priorities for El Niño preparedness.

TURKANA CENTRAL— Residents of Ng’iitakito village in Nakwamekwi, Turkana Central Sub-County, Turkana County are demanding urgent intervention after fire destroyed sections of Ng’iitakito Dispensary Saturday morning.

The fire, whose cause remains unknown, broke out at around 8.00 am on August 30, destroying the maternity unit, drug store, refrigerator, computers, medical records, equipment and nutrition supplies. No patients were at the facility.

Residents say loss of medicines, child screening equipment and nutrition supplies has left the community worried about access to care.

“All the medicines, child screening equipment, nutrition supplies have been destroyed. Where will people who depend on this facility go? Health is more important than anything else,” a resident said.

Another said the community is willing to provide land for a better facility.”Even if you need land, we are willing to move to create space for a better community hospital,” he said.

The incident has raised questions over previous renovation works and plans for a maternity ward. Records show funds were set aside for renovation, but residents question what was done and whether the burnt section was covered. They also query reported funding for a maternity ward that is yet to be clearly established.

Residents are asking authorities to clarify works undertaken and how funds allocated to the facility were used.”We have been left out and are not involved in the development of this dispensary,” a resident said. Another who has lived in the area for over 12 years said there has been no development.

Residents led by Aero John accused Lodwar Township MCA Ruth Kuya of neglect. The allegation has not been independently verified and the MCA is yet to respond.

Residents now want investigations into the fire, replacement of medicines and equipment, accountability for previous funds and rebuilding of destroyed sections to restore services for mothers, children and the community.