How Azimio la Umoja plans to uplift Turkana region

Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga speaks during a rally in Dagoreti, Nairobi on July 16, 2022. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja flag-bearer Raila Odinga took his campaigns to Turkana County, where he promised to uplift residents' lives through agriculture and water programmes.

Addressing a rally in Morelem, Turkana East, Raila promised that the Azimio administration will prioritise irrigation, agriculture, and social protection programmes. He said he understands the problems facing the region and urged residents to come out in large numbers and vote on the August 9 General Election.

“We are going to a battle, and I am here to ask you to come out in large numbers. I have heard your leaders. We have four big issues affecting this region – disease, ignorance, poverty and corruption,” he said.

Raila promised that the Azimio government had put in place plans to boost farming through irrigation to end food insecurity in the region, which has been worsened by perennial drought.

“We have put plans for irrigation, we shall build a dam here to boost agriculture. We have a big aquifer here in Turkana, and we shall exploit it and enable you get water for your livestock and farms,” he said.

The Azimio presidential candidate further promised that livestock insurance will cushion farmers who lose livestock through drought.

“We shall bring livestock insurance so that when you lose your livestock you will be paid. This will reduce poverty. In addition, we will build an abattoir in Lodwar to enable earn through meat export,” he added.

He further promised to make education free for all from early childhood to university.

Raila promised to roll out Babacare to take health services closer to the people, equip health facilities and employ medics.

He further pledged to expedite oil drilling in Lokichar and ensure residents benefit from the resource.

“We will work to improve standards of living here in Turkana. We will work to expedite the drilling of oil in Lokichar. We will invest in the Lapsset corridor to provide jobs for locals and improve the economy,” he said.

"We don’t want to see any family go without food. This is why we will give vulnerable families Sh6,000," he said.