The Turkana County Government, with support from the Kenya Red Cross Society and the Danish Red Cross, has concluded a week-long registration exercise targeting 2,000 families affected by drought for a cash transfer programme aimed at improving household food security.
The initiative, conducted in some of the hardest-hit areas, also provided food assistance to 10 schools in Suguta and Lokori Kochodin to support vulnerable learners and maintain continued access to education amid worsening drought conditions.
County Executive Committee Member for Public Service, Administration, and Disaster Management Patrick Losike confirmed that the Kenya Red Cross is among the key development partners supporting the county’s broader drought response efforts.
He said the collaboration reflects a coordinated approach to humanitarian assistance as the region faces prolonged periods of drought.
Rukia Abubakar, Regional Coordinator for the Kenya Red Cross in Turkana, noted that the intervention was implemented through the County Steering Group to prevent duplication and ensure equitable distribution of aid among affected communities.
“We were mapped to cover Suguta and Lokori Kochodin, while other partners covered different hotspots,” she explained, adding that the exercise also assessed emerging needs on the ground.
According to Rukia, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with both people and livestock facing significant risk if additional support is not mobilised in time.
Area Chief Ekiru Alokas praised the county administration and the Kenya Red Cross for working closely with local authorities to guarantee fair targeting of beneficiaries. He highlighted the role of community participation during enrollment in ensuring that the most vulnerable households were prioritised.
While welcoming the intervention, local leaders called for an expansion of the programme to reach more families and urged partners to include livestock feed in future support packages, noting the central role animals play in sustaining livelihoods across Turkana.
The completed registration marks a critical step in scaling up drought response measures as humanitarian partners and county authorities continue to seek long-term solutions to recurring climate shocks in the region.