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Seven killed after helicopter crashes on mount Ololokwe in Samburu

By
Vincent Amara
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Seven people have died after a helicopter crashed on Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County in a tragic aviation accident that occurred on Wednesday morning.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter registered as 5Y-GYM. The helicopter was reportedly flying from Loisaba towards Ewaso Nyiro when the accident occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time.

The Air Accident Investigation Department under the Ministry of Roads and Transport is leading investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash, with KCAA working alongside other relevant government agencies and stakeholders in the response.

A subsequent police report indicated that the aircraft, popularly known as ‘Lady Lorry’, had been travelling from Soyian in Laikipia County towards Loisaba Conservancy before crashing on Mount Ololokwe.

All seven people on board died in the accident. They were identified as the pilot, Josh Outran, and six passengers, Roger Duarte, Adam Navaty, Stephen Vasconquez, Henry Parra, Michael Contugi and Suian Suarez, the only woman among those on board.

Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi confirmed that heavy smoke was seen rising from the crash site as emergency response teams moved to the area following reports of the accident.

Witnesses also reported seeing thick black smoke and intense flames emerging from the crash site shortly after the helicopter went down.

Local residents raised the alarm immediately, prompting the deployment of security personnel and emergency medical teams to the scene.

Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash, including what may have caused the helicopter to go down.

The accident has raised renewed concerns over aviation safety as authorities work to establish the events leading to the loss of all seven lives.

Opposition urges ICC to reconsider Ruto case amid rising political violence

By
Vincent Amara
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Kenya’s united opposition has called on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to closely monitor the country’s political situation and consider reopening investigations involving President William Ruto amid growing concerns over recent incidents of political violence.

In a statement delivered on behalf of the united opposition, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua cited recent attacks targeting opposition politicians during public rallies and questioned how such incidents could occur under the government’s watch.

Karua urged the ICC Prosecutor to assess whether the reported incidents constitute credible grounds for opening a fresh investigation, particularly if evidence emerges of systematic or widespread attacks against civilians.

“We call on the ICC Prosecutor to closely follow developments in Kenya and assess whether there is credible information warranting an investigation,” Karua said.

She further called on the international court to review the status of the previous charges against President Ruto and determine whether the case should be reopened.

“If evidence emerges of widespread or systematic attacks against civilians that are planned, financed, directed or tolerated by those in authority, we call on the Prosecutor to investigate President Ruto, who was previously charged by the ICC, and to review the status of the previous charges against him,” she said.

Karua also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to safeguard the right of Kenyans to participate in a free, fair and credible electoral process that reflects the will of the people.

She urged Kenyans across the political divide to reject violence, hooliganism and intimidation, warning that protecting democracy should not be left solely to political leaders.

“Protecting democracy cannot be left to citizens and political leaders alone; it is the responsibility of every Kenyan,” Karua said.

She called on Kenyans to reject political violence regardless of who is responsible or who stands to benefit from it.

“No citizen should be denied the right to campaign, assemble or vote because armed gangs have been unleashed against them. The 2027 election must be a contest of ideas, not intimidation; a contest of votes, not bullets,” she added.

President William Ruto was charged by the ICC in 2013 with three counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, forcible transfer or deportation of population, and persecution, in connection with the 2007/08 post-election violence.

Three years later, the ICC terminated the case, citing insufficient evidence and allegations by the Prosecutor that witnesses had been subjected to widespread interference.

However, the court indicated that the case could potentially be reopened if new evidence emerged.

The opposition’s latest appeal has therefore renewed attention on the ICC’s previous proceedings against Ruto while raising fresh concerns over political violence and the credibility of preparations for Kenya’s 2027 General Election.

30-year-old man dies after falling into septic tank in Marsabit

By
Binti Wangila
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MARSABIT—A 30-year-old man has died after falling into a septic tank at a restaurant in Marsabit town.

Confirming the incident, Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo said the man met his death while cleaning the septic tank at around 11:30 PM on Tuesday, August 18.

Commander Kimaiyo said this was not the first time the deceased had done the job, as he was familiar with it and had been contracted to clean the septic tank.

“This is not the first time he was doing this job,” Kimaiyo said.

The body of the deceased was retrieved from the tank and taken to the Marsabit Level 4 Referral and Training Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem.

Kimaiyo said further investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the man’s death.

Elimu Scholars warned against drugs, negative peer pressure

By
Dominic Barasa
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Hundreds of Grade 10 and Form One students benefiting from this year’s Elimu Scholarship Programme have been urged to stay away from drugs, substance abuse and negative peer pressure that could derail their education and jeopardise their future.

The students were also encouraged to seek guidance and support whenever they face challenges rather than turning to drugs or associating with peers who could negatively influence their choices.

The message was delivered during a one-day Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) Annual Achievers Summit held at Garissa High School, where education and community leaders urged the scholars to remain focused on their studies and personal development.

JKF Garissa County Coordinator Nelson Oloo challenged the learners to set clear goals, maintain discipline and develop good character, saying these qualities could open opportunities for them in the future.

“Through mentorship and interaction with facilitators, we are equipping our scholars with skills in academic excellence, career development, leadership, character formation, resilience, goal setting, responsible decision-making and personal responsibility,” Oloo said.

He said the mentorship programme had also focused on the dangers of drug and substance abuse and the impact they can have on young people’s education, health, relationships and future prospects.

“We are encouraging our scholars to make informed choices, resist negative peer pressure and seek help when they encounter challenges,” Oloo added.

The summit also highlighted concerns over drug abuse among young people in Garissa and the wider North Eastern region.

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Chairperson Sheikh Hassan Abdi described drug abuse as a major challenge in the region and called on the students to become part of efforts to reverse the trend.

He said the use of intoxicating substances was prohibited under Islam, urging the learners to uphold values that would protect their education and future.

“The problem we have in Garissa town and the larger North Eastern region, which is inhabited by Muslims, is our youth who are abusing drugs. Anything that changes your good deeds and interferes with your mind is haram,” Sheikh Hassan said.

He warned that substance abuse was also affecting students’ ability to attend school and concentrate in class.

“Most learners are not going to school due to the use of drugs, and when they go, their concentration in class is limited. We want you to be the role models, avoid drugs and study hard so that you may achieve your dreams,” he said.

Korakora Assistant County Commissioner Paul Omondi urged the students to be cautious about the different forms of pressure they may encounter as young people, including influence from friends, social media and curiosity.

He warned against experimenting with drugs, saying seemingly harmless decisions could have serious consequences for their lives and ambitions.

“As a young person, you may encounter many forms of pressure, either from friends, social media or curiosity. You will have friends telling you, ‘Just try; it does not harm.’ I talk to you as my young brothers and sisters: please do not engage in drugs,” Omondi said.

He said authorities had witnessed cases where substance abuse had contributed to loss of life and the destruction of promising futures.

“We have seen lives lost, we have seen the dreams of very bright students lost, and I kindly beseech you not to take that direction. Do not experiment with drugs and substance abuse with your lives or your future,” he added.

The officials urged the Elimu scholars to take advantage of the opportunities provided through the scholarship and mentorship programmes, remain focused on their education and seek help whenever they encounter difficulties.

The summit was aimed at strengthening mentorship, leadership and life skills among the scholars while preparing them to make responsible decisions as they pursue their education and future careers.

Sakaja links personal survival story to push for better maternal and newborn care in Nairobi

By
Binti Wangila
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Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has linked his personal experience of being born prematurely to his administration’s efforts to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services across the capital.

Speaking on the second day of the Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Sakaja recounted the difficult pregnancy history of his late mother, saying his family lost three children before his eldest sister was born.

“Many people may not know why I am very passionate about issues of maternal mortality,” Sakaja said.

He said his mother experienced serious complications during pregnancy and was advised by doctors to have only two children.

“My late mother had lost three children before my eldest sister was born. She had difficulty with pregnancy, so the first three died,” he said.

According to Sakaja, his father later insisted on having another child because he wanted a son, despite the earlier medical advice.

Sakaja said he was eventually born prematurely in the 1980s, at a time when specialised care for premature babies was not readily available.

“I was born premature, and in the 80s, I think it was very difficult to get an incubator,” he said.

He recalled being transferred to another health facility, where he spent a considerable amount of time in an incubator before eventually surviving.

“I was in an incubator for a long time, and now I’m here. By the way, I survived,” Sakaja said.

The governor said his personal experience later shaped his approach to healthcare after taking office in Nairobi.

He said he was concerned to discover that the capital had no neonatal intensive care units at the time, prompting him to push for an expansion of specialised newborn services.

“I said this story must change,” Sakaja said.

According to the governor, Nairobi now has 23 neonatal intensive care unit beds and 224 beds in newborn units, following investments made by the county government in recent years.

He said expansion and improvement of maternal and newborn services is ongoing at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.

Sakaja also highlighted the expansion of kangaroo mother care, a method in which premature or low-birth-weight babies receive skin-to-skin contact with a parent to support their development and help regulate body temperature.

The governor said fathers are also being encouraged to participate in the practice.

“We have now encouraged men, the fathers, to also do kangaroo,” he said.

Sakaja said his own experience has also influenced the way he encourages parents whose babies are born prematurely.

He said he often reassures mothers that a baby being born small does not determine what they can achieve later in life.

“Don’t worry if your child is born small. Even me, I was born small. Your child can become a governor, can become a lawyer, can become a doctor,” he said.

The governor also pointed to what he described as improvements at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, saying the facility has recorded zero maternal deaths.

He described Pumwani as a major maternal healthcare facility, saying it handles between 50 and 80 deliveries every day.

Other county facilities, including Mbagathi and Mutuini hospitals, have also strengthened their maternal and newborn services, according to Sakaja.

The governor said continued investment in maternal and newborn healthcare is aimed at ensuring women facing pregnancy complications and babies born prematurely receive timely and specialised care.

For Sakaja, the push for better maternal and newborn services is also deeply personal, shaped by a childhood survival story that he says continues to influence his priorities as Nairobi governor.

Kenya spends sh20 billion on unused loans, raising questions over project readiness

By
Binti Wangila
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0

Kenya has spent billions of shillings paying for loans that have not been utilised, with the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o warning that the recurring cost points to weaknesses in the preparation and implementation of government projects.

Over the past 11 years, the National Treasury paid Sh20.066 billion in commitment fees on loans whose funds had not been drawn.

Nyakang’o presented the figures before the National Assembly’s Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, which was examining the payments made to creditors for undisbursed loan facilities.

Between the 2015/16 and 2025/26 financial years, Kenya paid an average of Sh1.824 billion annually in commitment fees.

The cost reached a peak of Sh3.232 billion in 2017/18 before generally declining in subsequent years.

However, the problem remains unresolved. Payments rose from Sh1.070 billion in 2024/25 to Sh1.267 billion in 2025/26, signalling that Kenya continues to incur costs on financing it has yet to utilise.

Nyakang’o said the money could have supported essential public services. She noted that the Sh1.267 billion paid in 2025/26 could have financed one year of primary school capitation for about 627,000 pupils, based on the current rate of Sh2,020 per learner.

The payments come as Kenya continues to grapple with a significant debt burden. As of June 30, 2026, the country’s Public and Publicly Guaranteed Debt Stock stood at Sh13.010 trillion, representing a 10.3 per cent increase from Sh11.799 trillion recorded the previous year.

External debt accounted for Sh5.685 trillion of the total. During the 2025/26 financial year, Kenya received Sh764.80 billion from external loans, while another Sh1.277 trillion remained undisbursed.

Nyakang’o attributed the recurring commitment fees to loans being secured before projects are ready to begin. Delays in procurement, failure to meet lenders’ conditions and poor alignment between financing timelines and the government’s ability to implement projects have also contributed to the problem.

To prevent further payments on unused loans, the Controller of Budget has proposed seven measures, including stricter requirements to ensure projects are sufficiently prepared before loans are contracted.

She also proposed a facility-level monitoring system jointly managed by the National Treasury and agencies responsible for implementing projects.

An early-warning system should also be established to identify loan facilities at risk of remaining undrawn and attracting additional fees, Nyakang’o said.

She further recommended regular reviews of loans that have remained undisbursed for long periods to determine whether they should be restructured or cancelled.

The parliamentary committee had requested a 10-year reconciliation showing commitment fees paid for each loan. Nyakang’o said the exercise would require additional time to validate the information, although detailed figures for the 2025/26 financial year had already been submitted.

For the Controller of Budget, the issue goes beyond the financial cost to taxpayers and points to broader weaknesses in government project planning and implementation.

“Commitment fees are not just an avoidable cost but should now be viewed as a symptom of inefficiencies that need to be addressed,” Nyakang’o told the committee.

Gachagua launches new attack on President William Ruto

By
Newton Ingui
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Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has launched a blistering new attack on President William Ruto, accusing his administration of state-sponsored harassment, financial mismanagement, and political manipulation.

Speaking during a meeting with Laikipia County DCP aspirants, the former Deputy President took direct aim at three key pillars of the current political and socio-economic landscape: the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Gachagua claimed that the tax authority is being weaponized to intimidate citizens and business owners through aggressive tax demands and agency notices. “People are crying… Tunawindwa kama wanyama (We are being hunted like animals),” he said, alleging that he is also a target of state agency profiling.

Questioning whether the healthcare system is actually serving Kenyans, Gachagua alleged that billions of shillings have been lost within SHA. He further accused the administration of routing funds through a private firm collecting a two-percent commission, citing widespread complaints from international delegations visiting Kenya.

Referencing recent political realignments, Gachagua argued that President Ruto acquired only a empty shell of ODM when allied leaders joined the government. He maintained that the party’s core support base shifted to the opposition-aligned Linda Mwananchi faction alongside figures like Edwin Sifuna, James Orengo, and Babu Owino.

The fresh wave of criticism marks a continued escalation in Gachagua’s campaign against the Ruto administration as his newly consolidated DCP outfit prepares for nomination drives ahead of future political contests.

G3 rifle taken from a National Police Reservist in Loiyangalani, Marsabit recovered

By
Mike Kwoba
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A G3 rifle which was taken from a National Police Reservist -NPR officer in Rarashe village, Loiyangalani Sub-County, Marsabit County has been recovered.

Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo has confirmed recovery of the rifle, which he said was through the efforts by the National Government Administration Officers in collaboration with community elders.

Police in Marsabit County had launched a manhunt for suspects accused of attacking the NPR officer and escaping with a G3 rifle on Monday, August 17.

Kimaiyo said the incident occurred when NPR officers had gone to the home of a suspect wanted in connection with a defilement case.

The officers intended to arrest the suspect, but he resisted arrest before seeking help from his associates in an attempt to evade arrest, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire between the group and security officers.

Kimaiyo said the suspects later fled after running out of ammunition, abandoning two firearms, an AK-47 rifle and an FN rifle, which were recovered by officers from Loiyangalani Police Station.

However, later that same evening, Kimaiyo said the same suspects allegedly ambushed an NPR officer, assaulted him and robbed him of a G3 rifle before escaping with it.

Operation to track down the suspects is still on.

Sh100 billion highway rewrites the cost of doing business in Northern Kenya

By
Kimani Karanja
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The journey from Kitale to Kakuma has never been just a journey. For the traders of Kakuma, it has been a race against time.

Every truck carrying tomatoes, cabbages, kale, fruits, cereals and other supplies heading north has carried more than merchandise. It has carried the day’s investment, the trader’s expected profit and, sometimes, the risk of watching all that money rot by the roadside.

For years, the road was the weakest link in a supply chain stretching more than 400 kilometres from the agricultural heartlands of western Kenya to the arid Turkana frontier.

Margaret Kamau, a Bamba Chakula trader in Kakuma, captured the problem simply in a World Food Programme account of the supply chain.

“We source vegetables from Kitale market. By the time the vegetables get here, some will

have gone bad.” Says Margret as she dates back to 2021.

At the time, WFP reported that trucks carrying fresh produce from Kitale took at least two days to reach Kakuma because of the poor state of the road. For traders dealing in perishable goods,every delay meant another loss.

Today, that story is changing.

The Sh100 billion Kitale-Lodwar highway, being developed with support from the Kenyan

government and the World Bank, is opening a faster connection between western Kenya,

Turkana and the wider South Sudan corridor.

The road forms part of the regional transport network linking Isebania, Kitale, Lodwar,Lokichogio, Nadapal and Juba.

And in Kakuma, the value of that investment can be seen not only in the black tarmac stretching across the landscape, but in what arrives on the shelves of shops and stalls.

Kakuma sits in one of Kenya’s driest regions, where agriculture is difficult and much of the food consumed in the settlement and surrounding communities has to come from elsewhere.

UN-Habitat survey of businesses in Turkana West found that 68.3 per cent of cereals and

pulses, 66 per cent of fruits and vegetables and 73.8 per cent of processed food reported by

businesses were sourced from Kitale.

Those figures put the importance of the highway into perspective.

For a Kakuma trader, Kitale is not simply another town on the map. It is a major supplier. For a farmer in Kitale, Kakuma is not simply a distant settlement. It is a market and between the two lies a road that determines how quickly food, money and opportunity move.

When the road is bad, everyone pays. When it improves, the benefits travel in both directions.

Abayisaba Jean Claude, a Bamba Chakula trader who operated a shop in Lokitaung market in Kakuma 3, experienced both sides of the equation.

When WFP interviewed him in 2020, he said he had started with business capital of about

Sh200,000. After joining Bamba Chakula and expanding his stock, he said his shop had grown to a value of Sh400,000.

More importantly, the programme gave him the ability to travel to Kitale himself to buy goods.

“I am able to go to Kitale and buy the goods that I want myself, at a fair price,” he said.

But there was still one problem.

“The road from Kakuma to Kitale was very bad. When we go to buy goods for our shops

and the car breaks down on the way back, all the perishable goods spoilt resulting in big

losses.” Said Jean.

His words offer perhaps the clearest picture of what poor infrastructure once meant to a small trader.

A broken-down vehicle was not merely a mechanical problem. It could mean tomatoes becoming too soft to sell.

It could mean cabbage losing its value. It could mean a trader returning to Kakuma with less merchandise than they had paid for and ultimately, it could mean higher prices for the consumer.

Now the road is becoming a market-maker The improved road is already changing the economics of towns along the corridor.

In Lokichoggio, trader Halima Mohammed told Sifa FM that fresh produce from Kitale that once took days to arrive could now reach the town in a day.

“Initially, we used to make orders for vegetables and fruits and it would take three days for

a lorry to fill up. When the commodities got to Lokichoggio we would incur losses due to

most having gone bad, and even the remainder would be sold at very high prices.” said

Halima.

The improved road, she said, has changed that experience as fresh farm produce could arrive much faster.That is the less visible dividend of a highway.

It is not only the shorter travel time. It is the cabbage that reaches the market fresh. It is the trader who does not have to price in three days of transport delays.

It is the consumer who does not have to pay for the vegetables that spoiled somewhere between Kitale and Turkana.

The road is also strengthening trade beyond Turkana. Turkana Chamber of Commerce and

Industry immediate former chairman Pius Ewoton has previously linked the improved road network to increased cross-border business.

“The vehicles are able to move fast,” Ewoton said, noting the improvement in movement along the corridor.

He also said more vehicles were operating between Kakuma and South Sudan because of the improved road.

At the time of the report, the Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita says an average of 20 Probox vehicles carrying goods traversed the Lokichoggio-Kapoeta road every day.

Twenty vehicles may sound like a small number against the scale of a Sh100 billion

infrastructure investment.

But each vehicle carries a chain of economic activity. A trader buys the goods. A transporter

earns. A driver gets paid. A supplier makes a sale. A customer receives the product and another business gets an opportunity to grow.

Ewoton has also argued that better regional roads can reduce the distance and cost of moving people and goods, while opening markets across Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The road is changing more than transport,The economic effect is already visible in places that were once considered too remote for serious investment.

A recent account of Lodwar’s transformation found that businesses, hospitality establishments and transport operators have benefited from the improved road network.

Guesthouse operator Julia Akorilem described the change in simple terms:

“Ever since it was opened for use about two years ago, I have never lacked visitors in my

guesthouse.”

Transport costs have also fallen. Lodwar tout John Munyasa said a journey from Lodwar to

Nairobi that once cost roughly twice as much had dropped to Kshs 3,000 by road.

For travelers, that is cheaper transport. For a hotel owner, it is more guests. For a trader, it is a larger market. For a farmer, it is another customer.

That is how a road begins to reshape an economy.

The figure Sh100 billion is difficult to visualise. It is an amount too large to fit comfortably into the experience of an ordinary trader. But its impact can be understood through smaller numbers.

400 kilometers of supply routes.73.8 per cent of processed food businesses sourcing from

Kitale.66 per cent of fruits and vegetables sourced from the same market.

According to an earlier county report 20 goods-carrying vehicles crossing towards South Sudan daily,For decades, northern Kenya’s greatest economic disadvantage was not necessarily a lack of demand.

It was distance. Distance made goods expensive. Distance made fresh produce risky. Distance made transport unreliable. Distance discouraged investment.

The improved Kitale-Lodwar highway is beginning to attack that disadvantage at its source.

For Kakuma’s traders, the change is deeply practical.

A better road means the journey to Kitale is no longer simply a trip to buy goods. It becomes a more predictable business operation. For Kitale’s farmers, it means a distant market is becoming easier to reach.

For Turkana’s consumers, it offers the prospect of more reliable supplies and lower transport-related costs.

And for the wider region, the highway provides a physical link between Kenya’s agricultural heartland and the markets of northern Kenya and South Sudan.

The real value of the Sh100 billion highway, therefore, may not be found in the kilometers of road built. It may be found in the vegetables that arrive before they spoil.In the trader who returns from Kitale with a full load.

In the truck that makes another trip instead of breaking down. In the customer who pays less.

And in Kakuma business owner who can finally look at the road not as an obstacle between her shop and her suppliers, but as the route to a bigger market.

For northern Kenya, the highway is becoming more than a road. It is becoming an

economic lifeline.

Turkana construction workers decry low pay as cost of living soars

By
Leah Kawon
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0

Rising living costs are pushing construction workers in Turkana County into financial hardship, with workers saying their wages can barely cover food, rent and other basic family needs.

Speaking to stakeholders on Wednesday, the artisans said some skilled workers earn as little as Sh1,000 per day, while their assistants receive about Sh500, despite working in difficult conditions.

The workers said the money is barely enough to cover basic needs such as food, rent, electricity, water, transport and school fees.

“A skilled worker is paid Sh500. With that amount, you have not even eaten lunch. You only had tea in the morning. If you eat lunch, by evening you are left with Sh100 or Sh150. How will you feed your family? You can see how difficult life has become.”One construction worker said.

The artisans said the rising cost of household goods and essential services has left many of them struggling to decide which basic needs to prioritize.

For workers who are the main providers for their families, they said the situation has become particularly difficult, with some forced to choose between paying rent, buying food and meeting their children’s education expenses.

One worker said the low wages make it difficult for families to invest in their children’s education.

“If you are paid Sh1,000 and remain with Sh300 after breakfast and lunch, how will you educate a child who needs Sh80,000 for a university semester?” The construction worker said.

The artisans said they are ready to work with government departments, organisations and other stakeholders that require skilled labour in Turkana County.

Patron and Director of the association, Eng. Philemon Loyapan, said the group is working to bring artisans together so they can access opportunities collectively and improve their livelihoods.

“We have decided to take action to improve the lives of artisans and construction workers in Turkana by ensuring that they unite, work together and seek opportunities collectively to fight poverty.”Loyapan said.

Loyapan said the initiative will also create opportunities for young people to use their skills to become self-reliant instead of depending on their parents.

He said the association believes that vocational skills can provide a pathway to employment, income and better livelihoods.

The artisans are calling on the Turkana County Government, organisations, businesses and residents of Lodwar to work with them to improve working conditions and ensure fair compensation.

They argue that the demanding nature of their work, coupled with difficult working environments and low wages, has left many skilled workers feeling undervalued.

The latest concerns come just two weeks after construction workers in Lokichar staged a strike, protesting what they described as low wages that do not reflect the high cost of living.

The complaints follow similar concerns raised by the Turkana Fundis Association in May 2026 over low wages for artisans in construction, welding, electrical work, plumbing and carpentry.

The association has called on the county government and other stakeholders to improve working conditions, expand opportunities and ensure artisans receive fair compensation for their skills.

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