The Turkana County government is set to assume full management of two health facilities previously run by the Kenya Red Cross Society and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). These are Natukubenyo Health Centre in Kalobeyei and Locherengamor Dispensary in Kakuma.
Health CEC Joseph Epem, after meeting with IRC country director Mohamed El Montassir Hussein, confirmed that the handover process is underway and that the county is committed to sustaining the operations of the facilities. IRC has been a key partner in delivering services like water, sanitation, primary healthcare, disease surveillance, and women’s empowerment in Turkana.
The county plans to upgrade Natukubenyo Health Centre from Level 3 to Level 4, which includes constructing inpatient wards and enhancing its surgical capacity. Epem emphasized that financial support from IRC during the handover would ensure continued services to both host and refugee communities.
IRC’s Hussein said the organization is assessing how best to support the county in maintaining healthcare services post-handover. The two facilities have already been gazetted as part of Turkana’s public health system.
Epem also urged for the registration of over 300,000 residents in Kakuma refugee camps under the Social Health Authority scheme to enhance access to care.
