Hundreds of Toposa pastoralists from South Sudan, who have migrated to Lokichoggio in search of pasture, have benefitted from a relief food distribution program run by the Turkana County Government.
The County allocated 200 bags of maize and a significant quantity of cooking oil to support the pastoralists, marking a critical step toward addressing the basic needs of this highly mobile community.
County Chief Officer for Administration and Disaster Management, David Maraka accompanied by Lokichoggio sub county administrator, Obed Echip, MCAs Vincent Ekipor (Lokichoggio), Muna Abdi (Nominated) and Bethwel Kobongin (Songot) visited the herders and donated the foodstuff.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, CO Maraka, reiterated that the initiative is part of a broader strategy by the administration of the devolved unit to enhance peaceful co-existence in the region.
“The mobility of these pastoralists often leaves them underserved. By providing essential services like food aid, we aim to strengthen ties and promote harmony among the cross-border pastoralists,” he said.
The relief grant exercise builds on previous interventions, including provision of animal health services and treatment under the County’s Kimormor program.
At the same time, Turkana County has set in motion plans to form joint resource-sharing committees to ensure sustainable utilization of scarce resources.
The initiative aligns with a recent intercommunity dialogue that resolved to silence the guns, adhere to disarmament calls, and uphold peace among cross-border pastoralists.
These resolutions are part of a wider effort to promote stability in the region.
Turkana County Government has also extended similar peace building efforts to other communities.
Last month, relief food was distributed to the neighboring Pokot community from Baringo to promote peace in Kapedo, a region that has historically experienced conflict.
According to the sub county administrator for Lokichoggio, Obed Echip, the pastoralists had been properly briefed about the exercise and organized into groups for ease of distribution.
“This is the most immediate need for the Toposa pastoralists, we have also stepped up dialogue between the Toposa and Turkana to foster cooperation as preached by the leadership of the respective nations,” Obed Echip explained.
Speaking after benefitting from the exercise, one of the evidently jubilant beneficiary said that the food aid would help diversify their diet from over reliance on animal products only.
“This distribution has been made possible because of peace; am calling out all the bandits to come out from the bush to safeguard the peace that we have now,” she said.
Noting that Turkana women could borrow agricultural skills from their Toposa counterparts and reverse food shortage through production, the Toposa herders expressed readiness to share their skills on sorghum cultivation.
“Our food reserve was already depleted, and we cannot return to our country as our animals will suffer from lack of pasture. We appreciate the County for taking care of us,” she added.
Other than the team led by CO Maraka, food distribution exercise in the expansive area is also being undertaken by the Chief Officer for Energy and Mineral Resources, Triza Amoni in some parts of Nanam ward.
Coming just a few days after the exercise was launched in Turkana North by Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, the food distribution exercise is expected to continue throughout the festive season to cushion vulnerable families from the adverse impacts of the severe drought witnessed for successive years in Turkana.
By Peter Gitonga
