Turkana County and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening joint efforts to deliver services across the county, including in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and emergency response.
Deputy Governor Dr John Erus signed the agreement on behalf of the county, alongside IRC Turkana Field Office head Joshua Rutto.
Under the MoU, the two parties will collaborate in health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), economic recovery and development, protection, advocacy, systems strengthening and research, and disaster management.
Dr Erus said IRC has operated in Turkana since the early 1990s, predating devolution, and credited the organisation with strengthening health systems and improving livelihoods for refugees in Kakuma.
He said the new agreement would enhance capacity for inclusive health service delivery, including disease surveillance along the Kenya-Uganda-Ethiopia-South Sudan border.
He added that it would also open avenues for joint resource mobilisation and use of IRC’s ISO-certified laboratory in Kakuma.
Rutto said the MoU aligns with IRC’s strategy of tying its work to the county’s development plans, including the County Integrated Development Plan, KISEDP and the Shirika Plan.
He said IRC would continue participating in sector working groups coordinated through the county’s Directorate of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation, and that the agreement would strengthen service delivery to vulnerable host and refugee populations.
The signing was witnessed by Deputy Director of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation Mike Aupe, Health and UHC Partnerships officer Sylvester Ebei Eoko, and Social Protection officer Alex Marangach. Naphtali Kamau represented the County Attorney’s office.
The MoU comes ahead of the county’s second annual NGOs and Development Partners Week, expected in the coming months.
By Peter Gitonga
