#RamadanMubarak

The Biashara Fund fits into the definition of bottom-up-middle-out economic approach, supporting growth of small enterprises owned by the ordinary mwananchi to contribute to sustainable growth of the national economy by building local economies.

Small scale traders form the bulk of business owners in the county, an important backbone of the local economy and source of employment for youth and women and ensures supply of essential goods and services. This funding translates to direct support to majority of residents

Today, I launched the Biashara Fund, a trader's credit scheme and issued cheques worth a total of Sh185million to over 3,091 small scale traders from across Turkana County. The loans are meant to support growth of SMEs through cash flow injection to grow the local economy.

Today also marked release of the groundwater mapping report by the @USAIDKenya the U.S. Geological Survey @USGS to identify groundwater resources in Turkana South, for sustainable management and improve success rate of borehole drilling

This World Water Day is an opportunity to raise awareness on how critical groundwater is and need to sustainably manage groundwater as a precious resource to provided water for domestic use, boost food production and improve sanitation

Together with representatives of partner organizations, joined residents of Lodwar to mark #WorldWaterDay2022, and used the occasion to commission the Napuu Water Project which supplies water to residents of Lodwar municipality with water from the Napuu aquifer

Held talks with @KRACorporate team led by Head of Facilities Logistics&Administrative Services Moses Muia who paid a visit to the County Government HQ, to discuss land acquisition process to establish trade facilitation centres along the highway, between Kainuk, Lodwar and Kakuma

Hosted a team from the Kenya Women Veterinary Association led by Chairlady Dr. Marilyn Karani. The team briefed me on planned dogs and cats population control activity in Kakuma, as part of campaign to control spread of zoonosis diseases (rabies and hydatid). @VeterinaryKenya

The team briefed us on progress of Field Development Plan approval and process to get a strategic partner for the next phase of oil production in South Lokichar oil basin. We also discussed waste management measures and collaboration on development programmes for local community.

Today morning, I held a meeting with a delegation from Project Oil Kenya, led by @TullowOilplc CEO Rahul Dhir who was accompanied by representatives from its other Kenya joint venture partners @AfricaOilCorp and @TotalEnergiesKE

Hosted a team from @TSC_KE led by Commissioner Mbage Ng’ang’a. We discussed collaboration to grow the education sector in Turkana County, especially on infrastructure development and additional recruitment of teachers to meet current shortage

Held discussions with @UKinKenya FCDO Team Leader Ben Fisher and delegation who paid a visit to the County Government HQ, Lodwar, on continued partnership to strengthen devolution, eradicate poverty and improve service delivery in health, education among other priority areas

These will include developing major water harvesting infrastructure that will support  irrigated agriculture and improved livestock production to achieve food security, develop policies to address conflicts over scarce resources.

The climate crisis affects vulnerable communities the most, both tiers of  government and partners have to invest in policies and programmes on sustainable development to solve the high levels of poverty which contributes to the state of vulnerability.

During Plenary session discussing the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities to recommend actions that can be adopted to strengthen resilience, at the #DevolutionConference2021

In Makueni County for the second day of #DevolutionConference2021, providing a platform for conversations on collaboration to mobilise for climate change action at the sub-national level.

Turkana as the rest of ASALs has experienced first hand adverse effects of climate change- extreme weather, frequent droughts and floods. There's critical need to develop and commit to implement climate-smart strategies, and build communities' resilience to climate change

The delegation is made up of members of a select committee appointed by Governor @Araap_Sang to review and give recommendations on the terms and condition of service of ECDE teachers. They will engage technical teams from the Department of ECDE and the County Public Service

Deputy Governor @LotethiroPeter hosted a delegation from @Nandicountygov led by County Secretary Dr. Francis Sang, who are in Turkana for benchmarking on best practices in the management of ECDE sector.