Residents of Turkana West have voiced their aspirations for an upgraded border post facility at the Nadapal-Nakodok area and a fully functional Lokichoggio Airport.
The concerns were raised during a three-day engagement meeting held by the County Department of Lands, Physical Planning, and Urban Areas Management on the County Spatial Plan (2023-2033).
The residents also expressed a shared desire for robust infrastructure that would restore the former bustling town of Lokichoggio and boost economic opportunities in the region.
Additionally, they proposed the establishment of several level 5 hospitals to address the healthcare needs of the huge and growing population of host and refugee communities residing in Turkana West, as well as residents of the neighbouring countries of South Sudan and Uganda.
The residents equally emphasised the importance of considering the pastoralist lifestyle and the exploitation of the vast underground aquifers to enhance water sufficiency.
They also advocated for an inclusive housing scheme that would benefit both the host and refugee communities.
The engagement meetings in Turkana West, led by County Surveyor Stephen Barasa and addressed by Christine Nalemsekon (Turkana West Sub County Administrator), Simon Lokakwan (Land Administrator), and Micah Allany (Songot Ward Administrator), were part of a comprehensive county-wide exercise to gather public input and engage all stakeholders in shaping the ten-year County Spatial Plan.
Similar engagements have already taken place in Loima and Turkana Central.
This comes just a few days after the Governor officially launched the County Spatial Plan together with the land regularisation exercise.
The exercise will also extend to all the remaining parts of the County in due course.
The spatial planning exercise, which is a shared mandate between the National and County Governments, is gaining momentum with strong support from both entities.
By Peter Gitonga
