Building Resilience and Nutrition in Turkana: ASALs Department Strengthens IFNUS Impact
Communities in Turkana County are reaping the benefits of improved nutrition, climate resilience, and sustainable water access under the Improvement of Food and Nutrition Security through Building Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in ASALs (IFNUS) Project.
A monitoring and evaluation mission by the State Department for the ASALs and Regional Development, led by Dr. Monicah Kinuthia, Director Strategic Programmes, visited project sites across Loima, Turkana Central, Turkana West, and Turkana North Sub-Counties between 31st October and 1st November 2025. The visit assessed ongoing interventions in school-based vegetable gardens, community water systems, and rangeland reseeding initiatives implemented in partnership with JICA and other development partners.
At Namuru ECD in Loima Sub-County, young learners are enjoying healthier meals through a vegetable-based lunch programme supported by the Department and JICA. The initiative, which incorporates vegetables such as cowpeas twice a week, has improved pupils’ nutrition and inspired them to try home gardening.However, teachers cited challenges including damage by livestock, inadequate fencing, and limited seed varieties. Dr. Kinuthia emphasized the need to scale up school gardens and introduce diverse crops like pawpaw and moringa to enhance nutrition and learning outcomes.
In Lobei Primary and Junior Secondary, students are actively involved in maintaining sunken-bed vegetable gardens. Using locally available manure and simple irrigation techniques, the schools are promoting self-sufficiency while learning practical skills in agriculture and water management.
Water projects remain central to the IFNUS vision. At Nakurio Village borehole, the team observed the need to enhance water flow to the nearby ECD centre. Recommendations included installing a storage tank within the school and scheduling water pumping sessions to balance community and school needs.
In Lolupe, where JICA and USAID jointly supported the solar-powered water system, the team noted the importance of acknowledging all partners and ensuring idle infrastructure such as energy-saving stoves is repurposed for community use.
Meanwhile, the Kalobeyei/Lonyuduk Water Pan constructed in 2021, continues to serve over 2,700 residents and nearly 100,000 livestock. The pan has become a critical water source in Turkana West, with natural vegetation around it improving soil retention and sustaining the ecosystem.
Beyond schools and water systems, the IFNUS Project is transforming livelihoods through rangeland reseeding. In Lopur Ward, farmer Christine Akai has become a local champion, training 17 other farmers on cultivating Sedge grass for fodder and seed production. Her work has boosted household incomes and enhanced feed availability for livestock.
In Pelekech Village, Turkana north, collaboration among JICA, GIZ, KEFRI and the Agency for Cross-Border Pastoralists Development (APaD) has revived degraded rangelands. Farmers there are using a sustainable “cut-and-carry” fodder system and have established fodder stores for seed preservation and sale.
Dr. Kinuthia commended the progress achieved through community-driven efforts and partner collaboration, noting that such initiatives are vital in building resilience against climate shocks. “The success stories we’ve seen in Turkana show that with the right support, communities can lead their own transformation from improving school nutrition to restoring degraded lands,” said Dr. Kinuthia. “Our goal is to strengthen these models and replicate them across other ASAL counties.”
The State Department for the Department of ASALs and Regional Development remains committed to scaling up sustainable, climate-smart interventions that empower communities, improve livelihoods, and secure a resilient future for Kenya’s ASAL regions.
By
Joan Ngugi