Turkana intensifies plan to control Tsetse infestation

Turkana, Wednesday July 12, 2023

KNA by Peter Gitonga 

The Turkana County Department of Livestock Development and Veterinary Services has held a meeting with stakeholders to increase surveillance on the Tsetse infestation hot stops. 

Referring to the just concluded One Health Outreach (‘Kimormor’) held in Loima, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries, David Erukudi said that pastoralists of Lochor-Elim, Urum, Puch, and Kaakorikamar, cited tsetse infestation as being one of the major challenge facing the livestock industry. 

He said, "It's important that we are actively responsive as livestock is a source of livelihood in Turkana and therefore we should mobilize the available resources to attend to this before it becomes a disaster.”

County Chief Officer (CCO) for Livestock Development Ezekiel Etelej stated that the County Government in conjunction with Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC) and other partners will be seeking to propose a higher budgetary allocation for pests control. 

According to the Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Benson Long'or, tsetse control was the joint responsibility between National and County Governments, hence the need for both to prioritize control of the infestation. 

In his closing remarks, Erukudi stated that livestock is the main economic mainstay for the majority of the Turkana residents, thus any threats to their livelihood should be prioritized. 

Other present included David Kangole (TUPADO), Dennis Paule Engor (LOKADO), Joshua Ruto (International Rescue Committee), Dr. Topisia Kitewan (VSF-G), Caroline Asekon (Emergency Locust Response Program), Jotham Amoit (County Livestock Market Council) and Peter Alimon (IGO-Drought Resilience Program in Northern Kenya).

Courtesy ;K. N. A