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World Bank officials announce steady progress on Turkana groundwater infrastructure

By
Hellen Nanjala
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LODWAR — World Bank delegation team leader Dr. James Origa has expressed confidence in the ongoing water infrastructure developments across Turkana County, highlighting that borehole construction under the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project is progressing steadily toward completion.

Speaking during a joint review meeting with county officials in Lodwar on Monday, August 17, 2026, Dr. Origa reported that physical works for the first batch of boreholes have reached 37 per cent, while the second batch stands at 26 per cent. He affirmed that both phases are expected to be successfully completed in the coming months to provide vital water security for local communities.

The progress update marks a crucial milestone for pastoralist populations in the region whose livelihoods rely heavily on livestock and remain vulnerable to severe, recurring droughts. The World Bank-backed project seeks to establish reliable, long-term groundwater resources across arid stretches of the county to alleviate dry-season water distress, reduce forced seasonal migrations, and enhance economic resilience among indigenous herdsmen.

In response to the progress update, Turkana County Secretary Dr. Richard Ekai underscored the county’s dedication to working alongside the World Bank and other development partners to turn these capital investments into sustainable local benefits. Dr. Ekai stressed that groundwater infrastructure must remain responsive to community needs, environmentally sound, and synchronized with county priorities, calling for enhanced coordination among national agencies, municipal authorities, and community leaders.

Reiterating the centrality of the initiative, County Executive Committee Member for Water Services James Long’ole emphasized that reliable water access remains the ultimate development priority for Turkana residents.

The high-level delegation brought together critical sector leaders, including Chief Officer Simon Etom, Water Director Paul Lotum, Administration Director Patrick Imana, County Project Coordinator Eng. Charles Ekeno, leadership from both TUWASCO and TURWASCO, as well as delegates from the Water Sector Trust Fund and K-WASH teams.

Turkana patients bear the brunt as health workers’ strike enters fourth week

By
Kimani Karanja
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TURKANA – The ongoing strike by nurses, clinical officers and laboratory technicians continues to disrupt healthcare services across the country, with patients in Turkana also feeling the impact of the prolonged industrial action. The strike, which has entered its fourth week, has left patients seeking services at Lodwar County Referral Hospital facing long waiting hours, with some struggling to access medical attention.

The situation in Turkana comes as health workers in several North Rift counties remain off duty, including Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo. In Eldoret, striking health workers on Wednesday stormed the Uasin Gishu County Government headquarters for the fourth time, demanding that Governor Jonathan Bii address their grievances. The workers blocked the main entrance for more than an hour, but both Governor Bii and his Health Executive Janet Kurgat were absent from the offices.

The workers have rejected fresh negotiations with governors, insisting that previously signed agreements should be implemented instead. Klen Kimutai, the nurses’ union secretary in Uasin Gishu, said the workers would not be intimidated into ending the strike through court orders. “We will only obey the court orders by going to jail,” Kimutai said.

The unions are demanding implementation of the delayed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement and the 2017 return-to-work agreement. They are also calling for the absorption of Universal Health Coverage workers into permanent and pensionable terms, implementation of delayed promotions and remittance of statutory deductions.

Kimutai accused governors of attempting to reopen negotiations on issues that had already been agreed upon. “The governors are forcing us to renegotiate with them on the same issues which we concluded, but we will not engage in wasteful talks with them. Let them implement all that we agreed and signed,” he said.

In Turkana, the prolonged strike has added pressure to an already stretched public health system. Patients arriving at Lodwar County Referral Hospital have reported long waits before receiving medical attention, raising concerns over access to essential services.

A resident, John Esibitar, said access to basic healthcare remains a major challenge in remote parts of Turkana, particularly for patients who depend entirely on public health facilities. He cited Lochakula Dispensary, where kidney patients have continued to experience difficulties accessing essential care.

The concerns come as Turkana County maintains that essential services have continued despite the strike. Turkana County Health Executive Committee Member Dr. Epem Esekon said the industrial action was a national matter affecting all 47 counties and was being handled through the Council of Governors. Speaking during a supportive supervision visit to Lodwar County Referral Hospital, Esekon said critical patients would continue to receive attention. “Any critical patient will be catered for,” Dr. Esekon said, adding that health workers on strike were still allowed by law to attend to critical patients.

However, residents say the situation on the ground remains difficult, particularly for patients requiring routine treatment and those travelling long distances to access healthcare.

The dispute has also attracted criticism from residents concerned about the leadership of the health sector at a time when services are under pressure. Peter Ekiru, a resident, questioned the focus of the county health executive, arguing that the health department requires full attention during the ongoing crisis.

The county government has, meanwhile, continued to pursue measures aimed at strengthening healthcare services. Earlier this year, it partnered with Ambulex Solutions to improve emergency medical response and strengthen pre-hospital and hospital referral services across Turkana. The county has also entered into a new partnership with the International Rescue Committee to strengthen healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and health systems in Turkana.

Nationally, the striking health workers have maintained that they will not return to work until their grievances are resolved. Kimutai said health workers wanted to serve patients but could not continue working while their rights remained unaddressed. “It is our desire as health workers to serve patients without such disruptions, but we cannot do so if our rights are ignored,” he said. He added: “We have been negotiating for a long time to avert the strike. We will not resume work until our demands are met.”

Religious leaders have also called for an urgent intervention, warning that the prolonged dispute was putting patients’ lives at risk. Rev. Thomas Kiptoo and Muslim leader Abubakar Bini urged the government and health workers to return to the negotiating table. Bini said the health sector required urgent attention because of its direct impact on human life. “Health is a very critical sector concerning lives, and the government should have stopped everything to deal with this matter,” Bini said.

As the strike enters its fourth week, the focus is increasingly shifting from the demands of health workers to the patients caught in the middle. In Turkana, where many residents travel long distances to reach facilities such as Lodwar County Referral Hospital, prolonged delays in accessing treatment could further expose vulnerable patients to serious health risks.

The standoff between health workers and county governments therefore continues, with unions insisting on implementation of existing agreements, while county governments maintain that essential and emergency services must continue.

Kagwe: Kenya cannot rely on rainfall alone to feed a growing population

By
Binti Wangila
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The government is placing greater emphasis on irrigation as a key driver of food production, saying reliance on rainfall alone cannot meet the needs of a country whose population continues to grow.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government is increasing investment in dams, water pans, rivers and deep boreholes to ensure that water is available for farming even during dry periods.

Speaking in Bamba, Kilifi County, during the launch of the Sh79 million rehabilitation of the Ndigiria Water Pan, Kagwe said water that is lost during rainy seasons must be harvested and stored to boost food production.

“Kenya cannot continue depending on rain alone to feed its people.”

According to Kagwe, the country’s growing population is increasing demand for food, yet Kenya’s landmass cannot expand. The government, he said, must therefore increase production from every available acre through irrigation.

“The population is growing, and that does not mean the size of Kenya will increase.”

The strategy includes harvesting water from seasonal rivers, storing water from permanent rivers, constructing and rehabilitating dams and water pans, and sustainably tapping groundwater through deep boreholes in areas where it is viable.

The government is also advancing major irrigation projects such as Galana-Kulalu, alongside plans to expand irrigated farmland through national and community-based schemes.

In Bamba, the rehabilitation of the Ndigiria Water Pan, which was established in 1963, is aimed at restoring its water storage capacity and supporting irrigation on approximately 50 acres.

More than 100 farmers are expected to benefit directly from the project, while an estimated 4,026 people will benefit indirectly.The project will also provide water for approximately 15,398 livestock.

The rehabilitation works will include desilting the water pan, stabilising its embankments, installing water pumping and distribution systems, balancing tanks, solar power systems and farm irrigation infrastructure.

Kagwe said the government wants stored water to do more than provide basic water access, insisting that it should translate into food, jobs and income for local communities.

He encouraged farmers to combine food crops with commercially viable crops to strengthen household food security while creating additional sources of income. Farmers under the scheme will also receive seeds, extension services and technical support.

The Cabinet Secretary directed the contractor to speed up the rehabilitation and carry out the works in phases to ensure residents continue accessing water during construction.

He also ordered the separation of livestock watering points from the irrigation infrastructure and directed that local residents be given priority for employment opportunities arising from the project.

Kagwe further called for the improvement of the road leading to Ndigiria Water Pan, saying irrigation projects must be supported by reliable infrastructure to enable farmers to transport their produce to markets.

He also pledged to push for the improvement of the wider Bamba road network at the Cabinet level.

How early climate warnings are helping Marsabit farmers secure harvests

By
Susan Mbodze
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SAKU, MARSABIT — Climate change is no longer news to farmers in northern Kenya. What is new is how people are dealing with it. Droughts, floods, early or late rains, heat waves, and disease outbreaks have become part of life in Marsabit.

But in Saku Constituency, early weather warnings and training in farming and livestock management are helping communities turn uncertainty into food on the table. The story is playing out differently in the villages of Sagante-Jaldesa and Dakabaricha this season.

The long rains (March, April, May) started on February 25 this year, weeks before they were expected. For many, the sudden downpour caught them unprepared. For John Waqo, 32, of Dakabaricha village, it became an opportunity. “The rains came too early,” Waqo says, standing beside his one-acre maize farm.

A regular listener to weather bulletins and agricultural programs on the radio commonly known as Kilimo na Ufugaji Waqo had been following forecasts from the Kenya Meteorological Department alongside advice from indigenous weather forecasters. When the rains arrived, he moved fast to plant maize to take advantage of the moist soil, even before he had fully prepared his land. The gamble paid off. “The maize has done extremely well,” he says.

Not everything worked, however. On his second acre, where he had planted beans, the heavy rains damaged the crop. “Beans don’t need too much rain. They stunted and the harvest will be poor,” Waqo explains. Fellow farmer Elizabeth Isaiah had a similar experience: “Beans don’t need a lot of rain. The early rains affected many farmers who had already planted,” she says. “We were expecting the rains next month, in April. We were not prepared for the sudden change.”

Marsabit County Director of Meteorology John Nguyo explains that these unseasonal rains are part of a broader shift. “The seasons have changed; the shifting of long rains is driven by global warming, where higher global temperatures heat Indian Ocean waters.

Warmer seas cause rapid evaporation, loading the atmosphere with moisture that triggers sudden, destructive downpours,” Nguyo says. “Climate change is altering rainfall patterns across the country, making forecasts less predictable and timing more critical.” That is why his department has been pushing more frequent weather updates through radio, chiefs’ barazas, and SMS alerts.

Earlier in February, farmers in Marsabit and the wider Marsabit-Moyale region spanning Kenya and Ethiopia had been urged to plant drought-tolerant, early-maturing crops. Oliver Kipkogei, a climate forecast expert at ICPAC, IGAD, advised farmers to prepare land early and plant crops such as teff, Katumani maize, beans, vegetables, and green grams. He also urged farmers to harvest and store rainwater and adopt water-efficient irrigation technologies, while warning farmers and agriculture officers to be ready for fall armyworm and other pest outbreaks.

While some crops failed, others thrived. In Sagante-Jaldesa, grass farmer Shibia Guyo Shibia is celebrating one of his best seasons, having already harvested 60 bales and expecting more than 200 bales from his two-acre farm. “This season I will harvest well,” Shibia says, urging farmers to look beyond traditional crops. “Grass farming has good income, especially in pastoralists’ areas.”

Livestock keepers were also advised to conserve grass and water for the dry season. Dr. Guyo Malicha Roba of ICPALD’s Drylands and Pastoralism Unit urged herders to share scarce resources and resolve conflicts peacefully. Indigenous weather forecaster Mzee Guyo Sora from Sololo added that early vaccination of livestock was key to prevent diseases spread by flies following the season’s weather forecast.

Saku Sub-County Agriculture Officer Dub Nura reiterates that farmers must prepare land early and follow weather updates closely to make informed decisions. “Farmers should prepare their farms early to cope with climate change effects that are changing rainfall seasons,” Nura says. “Follow weather forecast information so you can make the right farming decisions.” He also promotes crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and cut disease—a practice Waqo credits for his maize success after planting on land that had beans last season. “Crop rotation has helped me,” Waqo says.

For some residents who ignored or missed early warnings, the season brought losses. For those who listened, it brought lessons and food. The experiences in Dakabaricha and Sagante-Jaldesa show that while climate change is disrupting farming in Marsabit, adaptation is possible.

With timely information, technical advice, and willingness to change planting dates and crops, farmers are protecting harvests and food security. As climate shocks become more frequent, the difference between loss and livelihood in Saku increasingly comes down to one thing: whether a farmer heard the warning and acted on it.

Turkana TVCs urged to align courses with local job market demands

By
Nanyei Dorcas
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KAKUMA — Turkana Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has urged county-owned Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs) to align their training programs with local economic activities and job opportunities.

Speaking at the Cradle Hotel in Kakuma during a two-day forum on the County Vocational Education Strategic Plan, Dr. Erus warned that failing to adjust to market needs leaves graduates struggling to secure employment or start successful businesses.

He noted that joint research conducted by the county and key stakeholders identified several high-potential value chains for wealth creation, including fishing, livestock processing, renewable energy (wind and solar), and extractive industries.

“I would be very surprised if institutions like Kalokol and Kataboi fail to offer programs in boat making, net repair, and cold-chain handling to strengthen the area’s dominant blue economy,” Dr. Erus said.

He urged the Directorate of Vocational Training to ensure the Strategic Plan addresses evolving skill requirements, linking the initiative to the national discourse on ‘The Kenya We Want by 2060,’ spearheaded by President William Ruto.

“I am satisfied that the plan provides for market alignment,” Dr. Erus added. “Failure at the implementation stage means TVCs will continue producing graduates unable to keep pace with Turkana’s economic growth.”

Turkana operates eight functional TVCs under the TVET CDACC system, training technicians, technologists, and artisans. The forum supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) via the PROSPECTS project brought together county officials, development partners, and the County Assembly Committee on Education and Sports.

ILO Kenya Chief Technical Advisor Carolyne Njuki highlighted past successes, including supporting the Lodwar Vocational Training Center with cobblestone paving technology used to upgrade the Lodwar Fresh Produce Market. She pledged continued support in tracking labor market trends.

Dr. Lawrence Odollo, an ILO consultant who guided the Strategic Plan, praised the initiative as a crucial step for local youth, noting that a clear strategy ensures the county gets vocational training right.

Director of Vocational Training Stephen Eregae appealed to County Assembly members present for the necessary budgetary support to implement the plan successfully.

Sossion faces parliament, promises stronger support for Teachers

By
Binti Wangila
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Teachers Service Commission (TSC) nominee Wilson Sossion has pledged to prioritise teachers’ welfare and address key challenges facing educators if approved by Parliament, while assuring MPs that his previous role as Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary-general will not compromise his independence.

Sossion appeared before Parliament on Thursday for vetting, where he said his experience as a teachers’ union leader had given him a deeper understanding of the challenges facing teachers and how to engage the government in finding solutions.

He said his previous advocacy did not seek to undermine the TSC but rather to strengthen the commission and ensure it had the resources needed to support teachers.

“I was not pulling down the commission, but I was building the commission.”

Sossion cited his advocacy in 2011 for the employment of teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, saying his engagement with the National Treasury helped secure funding for the programme.

He said the efforts contributed to the availability of Sh2.4 billion, as well as an additional Sh1.4 billion annually for teacher recruitment.

The former KNUT official also defended his push for better salaries for teachers, saying competitive pay was necessary to attract and retain motivated, ethical and highly qualified educators.

Sossion said his role would change if appointed to the TSC, moving from advocating for teachers from the union side to implementing policies and decisions adopted by the commission.

“I am not going to be a disrupter within. I will seek to continue implementing the policies that are agreed within the commission that benefit the teachers of Kenya.”

He further pledged to defend the commission while maintaining constructive engagement with teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector.

Among the issues he said he would prioritise is the delay in payment of pension benefits to retired teachers.

Sossion told MPs that teachers remain among public servants who often wait for extended periods before receiving their retirement benefits. If appointed, he said he would push for pension payments to be processed and released promptly.

“Teachers must be promptly paid their pension. It is not a difficult thing.”

He said Kenya had made progress through various pension reforms, including the expansion of NSSF coverage, but maintained that more needed to be done to ensure retirees receive their benefits on time.

Sossion assured MPs that his loyalty would remain with both the commission and teachers, saying the two sides should not be viewed as being in conflict.

“I am not going to betray the commission, neither am I going to betray the teachers of Kenya.”

His vetting comes as Parliament considers whether to approve him for a position on the commission, with his experience in teachers’ union leadership likely to remain a key focus of the process.

Murang’a rocked by Gachagua’s political visit

By
Binti Wangila
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      Thousands of residents turned up in Murang’a town, singing and dancing as they awaited an address by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua during his political visit to the area.

      Gachagua is in Murang’a to officially open the party’s branch offices before addressing a public rally.

      Earlier, the former Deputy President paid a courtesy call on Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, who recently joined the DCP and announced that he would seek re-election on the party’s ticket in the upcoming General Election.

      The visit has also highlighted the growing influence of the DCP in the region, with dozens of local political aspirants showing interest in seeking the party’s tickets for various elective positions.

      Gachagua’s visit comes just a day after Murang’a town hosted another major political event, when area MP Ndindi Nyoro embarked on a meet-the-people tour that attracted thousands of residents.

      During the tour, Nyoro extended an olive branch to other United Opposition leaders, saying he was willing to work with them in efforts to unseat President William Ruto.

      Nyoro’s remarks have heightened anticipation over Gachagua’s response, with residents keen to hear his position on the latest political developments.

      Attention is now firmly focused on Gachagua’s address, as residents await to hear whether he will comment on Nyoro’s call for political cooperation and the DCP’s strategy ahead of the next General Election.

      Gachagua urges government to guarantee his security ahead of Emurua Dikirr visit.

      By
      Binti Wangila
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      Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to guarantee the safety of himself, his entourage and supporters ahead of his planned visit to Emurua Dikirr in Narok County on Friday, August 21, 2026.

      Gachagua said the visit was organised following an invitation from Democratic Congress Party (DCP) candidate Vincent Rotich, with the former Deputy President expected to join party leaders and supporters from across the country for a thanksgiving event.

      However, Gachagua said he had received reports of threats allegedly aimed at stopping him from visiting the constituency, with some of the threats captured on video and circulated on social media.

      “My attention has been drawn to threats which have been recorded on videos, shared online and reported by the media that my entourage and I should not set foot in Emurua Dikirr on August 21, 2026,” Gachagua said.

      He has consequently called on the National Police Service to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the visit, including residents of Emurua Dikirr.

      Gachagua maintained that, as a Kenyan, he has a constitutional right to travel to any part of the country and participate in political activities protected under the Constitution.

      “I am a Kenyan with the right to visit any part of the country and enjoy the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya. Note that Emurua Dikirr is part of Kenya.”

      The former Deputy President also referred to the violence witnessed in Homa Bay over the weekend, saying such incidents have raised concerns over the safety of political gatherings across the country.

      He urged Kanja to ensure that the police carry out their responsibility of protecting lives and property regardless of people’s political affiliations.

      Gachagua further raised concerns over previous attacks which he said had targeted him, claiming that he presented evidence of 24 attacks to the Inspector General during his visit to Kanja’s office in Nairobi on January 30, 2026.

      “You took an oath to protect human life and property for all Kenyans,” Gachagua told Kanja.

      Ahead of Friday’s visit, Gachagua sought assurances from the Inspector General regarding the security arrangements, asking whether he, his entourage and the people of Emurua Dikirr would be safe.

      He also questioned whether the police were adequately prepared and whether sufficient measures had been put in place to protect lives and property during the visit.

      Gachagua’s concerns come amid growing anxiety over violence and disruptions at political and civic gatherings in different parts of the country.

      The August 16 incident in Homa Bay further heightened those concerns after the Linda Mwananchi movement said its convoy encountered roadblocks and groups of people allegedly attempting to prevent its leaders and supporters from accessing parts of the county.

      The incident has since triggered calls for investigations to establish those behind the violence, putting the issue of security under renewed scrutiny ahead of Gachagua’s planned visit to Emurua Dikirr.

      Government steps up efforts to lower prices of essential medicines

      By
      Binti Wangila
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      The government has launched new measures to reduce the cost of essential medicines for Kenyans, particularly patients living with chronic and non-communicable diseases such as cancer.

      Speaking on the second and final day of the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi, President William Ruto said the government will engage more international pharmaceutical companies to negotiate lower prices for medicines used by a large number of patients.

      President Ruto said he is expected to meet the leadership of US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Plc to discuss the possibility of reducing the prices of some medicines supplied in Kenya.

      “A substantial amount of the medicine we use in the country comes from Pfizer,” President Ruto said, stressing the importance of the government using its collective bargaining power to secure better prices.

      The President cited the partnership between the Ministry of Health and Roche East Africa, which saw the price of Herceptin (trastuzumab), a key medicine used in the treatment of breast and gastric cancer, reduced from Sh120,000 to Sh40,000 per treatment session.

      “We have a pool of patients, and therefore we need to benefit from economies of scale,” he said.

      The government has also pledged to continue supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturers, who currently supply approximately 30 per cent of the Kenyan market.

      President Ruto said the government will explore ways of reducing the cost of packaging materials used by pharmaceutical manufacturers, a move aimed at lowering medicine prices while supporting local industries.

      The measures are intended to ensure that the cost of treatment does not prevent Kenyans from accessing essential medicines, while at the same time promoting local pharmaceutical production and strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

      Court orders Anti-Abduction unit to file report on missing businessman Jimmy Mutava

      By
      Vincent Amara
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      The Machakos High Court has ordered the Anti-Abduction Unit to file a comprehensive report detailing the status of investigations into the disappearance of Mlolongo businessman Jimmy Mwanzia Mutava.

      The directive comes as the case surrounding Mutava’s alleged abduction continues to draw significant attention from his family, friends, business associates, and Mlolongo residents, all of whom are demanding answers regarding his whereabouts.

      The court had previously directed the unit to provide an update after it emerged that Mutava has been missing since July 27, 2026, when he was allegedly abducted in Mlolongo by unknown individuals.

      Following the latest proceedings, the judge granted the investigative unit’s request and directed them to submit full details concerning Mutava’s case by next Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

      The court warned that if the unit fails to comply with the order, senior government officials could be summoned to appear in court and account for the progress of the investigation.

      This development marks a significant step in the legal proceedings as the court seeks clarity on what investigators have established, the progress made, and any outstanding leads.

      The Anti-Abduction Unit took over the case after the disappearance was initially reported at Mlolongo Police Station on July 27. Detectives have since been pursuing several persons of interest to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction.

      The court’s intervention follows a habeas corpus application filed on behalf of Mutava’s family, demanding that authorities account for his whereabouts and produce him before the court. His family continues to seek answers as the search enters its fourth week.

      The court is expected to review the Anti-Abduction Unit’s report at the next sitting to determine further action, including whether senior security officials must be summoned.

      The case remains closely watched as the community hopes the ongoing proceedings will reveal what happened to Mutava and lead to his safe return.

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