Turkana leaders oppose planned funds drive over drought

Turkana leaders led by Governor Josphat Nanok have hit back at aid agencies seeking to raise funds for drought relief.

Speaking in Turkana South while marking world water day, the leaders termed those making funds appeals as drought terrorists and drought businessmen.

Governor Nanok who has been on the spot over the county government’s approach including resource allocation, response and mitigation efforts lashed out at the media for its coverage.

“You keep bringing morning shows with experts and not local leaders,” said Governor Nanok.

The governor says his government has supplied food and clean water to hunger-stricken families as part of its mitigation effort.

In a spot-check, Citizen TV however came across an elderly couple in Karoseket village in Kainuk.

For the last one week, 70 year old Mzee Paul Erot Arokot and his wife Josephine have been surviving on boiled meat soup from their goat which died in the drought.

The aid agencies and citizens, mostly out of the county, have been intervening with relief food but the leaders insist that solutions for Turkana will only come from the Turkanas themselves.

“We are the only ones who know our lifestyles and problems,” insisted Governor Nanok.