Garissa County and the Kingdom of Norway have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening development cooperation, with a focus on key sectors including health, water, early childhood development (ECD), and local governance.
This comes after a high-level meeting held in Garissa Township on Thursday between Governor Nathif Jama and Norway’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Geir Arne Schei, who is on a working visit to assess the impact of Norwegian-funded development initiatives in the region.
Governor Jama welcomed the envoy, describing Norway as a “reliable development partner” that has continuously supported community-led projects aimed at improving livelihoods and enhancing resilience.
“We value Norway’s support and look forward to deepening this partnership to deliver impact where it matters most,” said Governor Jama, highlighting the county’s ongoing efforts to expand access to basic services and empower local communities.
Ambassador Arne Schei expressed satisfaction with the progress of various projects funded by Norway, including the construction of boreholes, health facilities, ECD centres, and natural resource management initiatives.
He praised Garissa’s leadership for its commitment to transparent governance and inclusive development.
“Garissa holds great potential, and we are encouraged by the local leadership’s openness and commitment to improving lives through practical development efforts,” he said.
The visit included site inspections of completed and ongoing projects in Balambala and surrounding areas, where community members have benefited from improved water access, job creation, and better service delivery.
“These projects have helped improve water access and created jobs for our youth,” noted Ahmed Musa, a community leader from Balambala.
The renewed engagement aligns with Governor Jama’s broader agenda of leveraging international partnerships to scale up locally-driven development, particularly in marginalized and arid regions.
Both parties pledged to continue working closely to ensure sustainable outcomes for the people of Garissa.