Turkana County’s Path to Prosperity: Digital Services, Artisanal Goods, and Agriculture

County officials, business leaders, and leading NGOs reviewed the findings of a study exploring job creation and economic growth strategies in Turkana County.

Turkana, home to Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps, faces challenges in integrating refugees into the local economy, as many residents are agro-pastoralists.

The major market study identified areas with high growth potential and opportunities for new businesses to connect with existing value chains.

The study highlighted untapped market potential in digital services, artisanal goods, and agriculture, with beekeeping showing particularly strong prospects. The growing demand for digital services aligns with the tech-savvy youth population, despite the lack of digital infrastructure, especially among refugees.

Kenya hosts over 770,000 refugees, with 288,000 in Turkana alone. The county in Kenya’s northwest borders Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

The value chain assessment report sets the stage for a four-year project by the International Trade Centre (ITC) to support small business growth in Turkana. The project, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is part of the Socioeconomic Hubs for Integrated Refugee Inclusion in Kenya (SHIRIKA) Plan, aimed at transforming refugee camps into integrated settlements. SMEs are a key component of this initiative.

“Our expectation is that we will tailor activities to support business development services for traders in refugee-hosting areas of Kakuma and host communities,” said James Lokwale, Director of Trade for Turkana County Government.

He spoke at a workshop hosted by ITC on June 26, 2024, in Lodwar, Turkana’s county seat. The event brought together county officials, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and organizations such as Good Neighbors Kenya, Amahoro Coalition, Inkomoko, Turkana Christian Development Mission, World Relief, LOKADO, Apir Turkana, and ACDI/VOCA.

Local organizations in Lodwar and Kakuma provided valuable insights from their agricultural sector experiences. Their input will be instrumental as the project begins its activities in 2024.

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