The County Government of Turkana has welcomed the National Gender and Equality Commission’s plan to establish a regional office in Lodwar. 

The Deputy Governor, H.E. Dr John Erus, received the Commission at the Office of the Governor on Monday 5 October 2026 on behalf of H.E. the Governor. The delegation was led by the Chairperson, Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, with the Vice Chairperson, Commissioner Thomas Koyier, Commissioner Caroline Lentupuru, and the Commission Secretary/CEO, Dr Purity Ngina.

Hon. Jaldesa outlined the Commission’s mandate under Article 27 of the Constitution. She said the Commission will work with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to check that polling centres are accessible to persons with disabilities and older members of society. She sought the County’s support for the regional office and offered support on the County’s gender, youth and social protection policies, its legislation and the identification of gaps in existing frameworks.

COUNTY PRIORITIES 

The County’s Chief Officer for Gender said survivors of gender-based violence require free legal aid and representation, that health centres had responded poorly to survivors, and that survivors lacked confidence in existing response systems. She identified the social and economic empowerment of women as an area yet to be implemented. 

Her concerns included the scope of legal aid, the use of shareable oil revenue to advance the gender agenda, the inclusion of refugees, the County’s draft Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Policy, sexual harassment, mining and the Ilimanyang community. The Petroleum Act, 2019 allocates 20 per cent of the government’s profit oil to the county government.

SHARED AGENDA 

The meeting deliberated on gender balance and youth representation in the County Executive Committee, gender-responsive budgeting and policies, a safe learning environment for learners and the Shirika Plan for refugee inclusion. It heard that the Persons with Disabilities Act is operational and that a disability board is in place in the County. The Act commenced on 27 May 2025.

 On access to justice, the meeting noted a legal aid programme run by the Kenya Red Cross Society with the County Government, handling cases including mistaken identity, wrongful confessions and sexual harassment. It noted duplication of interventions among actors and the need for frameworks tailored to the County’s needs.

 The Commission undertook to support the County in drafting and reviewing its policies, and noted the need to encourage male survivors of gender-based violence to report.