NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 7 – Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has unveiled the government’s plans to refurbish the Turkwel state lodge in West Pokot.
He said the initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Keriovide the head of state with a secure and spacious venue for meetings with local leaders.
“We have engaged with the leadership here and agreed on a raft of issues, including the expansion of this place in Turkwel. We have discussed the rehabilitation of the state lodge to provide the president with ample space for discussions with leaders when he visits this area,” he announced during his weekend tour.
The Turkwel state lodge, primarily used for hosting the head of state, had been abandoned for several years due to rampant cattle rustling in the region, which posed a significant security threat.
In 2019, former President Uhuru Kenyatta had pledged to renovate the facility and transfer its ownership to the county government, but this plan had not materialized.
During his visit, Omollo also reassured the West Pokot leadership that the government would revive stalled development projects, including road infrastructure and the lower Turkwel irrigation scheme, which aims to boost agriculture in the region.
He said the initiatives will be carried out in collaboration with the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA).
