Lokori/Kochodin Ward MCA Hon. Willy Napuyo has launched a scathing attack on a report presented to the Turkana County Assembly by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries, Dr. Michael Eregae, dismissing it as inaccurate and accusing the county executive of failing to provide the House with the true status of irrigation projects.
Speaking during a plenary sitting, Napuyo described the report as “a blatant lie,” taking particular issue with the classification of the Morulem Irrigation Scheme as “minimally operational.”
According to the MCA, the scheme ceased operations long ago and should not have been listed among projects that are still functioning.
“Morulem Irrigation Scheme stopped operating a long time ago. It is misleading to tell this House that it is minimally operational when, in reality, it is not functioning at all,” Napuyo told the Assembly.
His remarks came after Dr. Eregae responded to a question on the status of irrigation schemes in Turkana South and Turkana East, informing the House that the two sub-counties have 15 irrigation schemes operating at different levels, ranging from fully operational to minimally operational and non-operational.
Napuyo also questioned changes to development funding for irrigation projects in his ward, alleging that approved allocations had been reduced without explanation.
He said the Lokwi Irrigation Scheme was initially allocated KSh30 million for fencing but that the amount was later reduced to KSh17 million.
The legislator further claimed that Lokori/Kochodin Ward had been allocated KSh40 million for development projects, with KSh30 million earmarked for fencing the Lokwi Irrigation Scheme and KSh10 million set aside for a water project in Nakukulas. However, he alleged that the Nakukulas water project was subsequently removed from the budget.
“Maybe the CEC can tell me why this money was reduced. I was allocated KSh40 million. We allocated KSh30 million for fencing and KSh10 million for water in Nakukulas. Even that water project has been removed,” Napuyo said.
The MCA also raised concerns over what he described as deteriorating infrastructure and inconsistencies in the management of development projects. He cited a contract worth KSh4 million awarded for the supply of farm tools and equipment to farmers under the Morulem Irrigation Scheme.
According to Willy Napuyo, the contractor successfully delivered the equipment to beneficiaries, but was never paid. He further claimed that records relating to the project were later removed from the county’s system.
“Where are we going, surely? Should we keep on summoning the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries to give us second-hand information instead of first-hand information?” he asked.
In his response, Dr. Eregae attributed the poor performance of several irrigation schemes to inadequate budgetary allocations, the spread of Prosopis juliflora (Mathenge), siltation of irrigation canals and persistent insecurity in parts of the county.
However, several MCAs questioned the accuracy of the report, arguing that it did not reflect the actual situation on the ground in their respective wards. The legislators called for an independent verification exercise before the Assembly could rely on the report for oversight and budgetary decisions.
Following the debate, the House resolved that the Assembly’s Committee on Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries conduct a joint inspection of the irrigation schemes with officials from the County Department of Agriculture.
The Speaker directed the committee to table a comprehensive report on the actual status of irrigation schemes in Turkana South and Turkana East by October 1, 2026.
The findings are expected to guide future investments in irrigation infrastructure as Turkana County seeks to strengthen food security and expand agricultural production in its arid and semi-arid areas.
