UN to promote development for Kenyan county

The United Nations (UN) agencies in Kenya on Thursday signed a three-year collaborative venture with the country's Turkana county to promote development, peace, security and climate resilience, an UN official said.

The joint program, worth 182 million U.S. dollars, seeks to transform the arid Turkana county through improved governance, skills development, environmental sustainability and land management, according to the UN.

"We have a responsibility to support innovative development initiatives that aim to build community resilience in the county and transform livelihood," said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya.

The new partnership with Turkana county is part of the UN development Assistance Framework launched in 2014 to re-invigorate sustainable development in Kenya.

Bekele-Thomas said the UN system in Kenya will devote channel resources towards transformative projects in marginalized Kenyan counties.

"Our joint program with Turkana county focus on a novel approach to address development needs like food security, climate resilience, education and health," Bekele-Thomas told reporters.

Turkana county has endured climatic shocks, insecurity, abject poverty and marginalization for decades.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok said the county has allocated 65 percent of its budget to development projects including physical infrastructure, education, health and irrigation.

"We have explored innovative partnership with donors and private sector to finance grassroots-based projects to enhance food security, peace and security in the county," said Nanok, adding the county government will allocate 30 million dollars annually to help implement the UN's joint program.

Nanok said development partners and private sector have pledged additional resources to help the county in expanding irrigated farming, transport infrastructure and social amenities. Endi