Turkana Trainees Stage Walkout Over Alleged Mismanagement in Nyota Initiative Training
Trainees under the government’s flagship Nyota Initiative in Turkana County have staged a mass walkout, bringing to a halt a four-day capacity-building workshop in protest against alleged mismanagement by the facilitating firm, Mercy and Associates Limited.
The participants, drawn from Kibish, Loima, Turkana West, and Turkana Central sub-counties, walked out on Tuesday afternoon, demanding the immediate termination of the firm’s contract. They cited gross mismanagement, inadequate resources, and what they termed “blatant exploitation.”
The protest was triggered by a combination of grievances, notably the rejection of a KSh 500 transport reimbursement, which the trainees described as an insult given the long distances many had traveled.
The trainees, who are being prepared to mentor youth in entrepreneurship and leadership, accused Mercy and Associates Limited of failing to provide the basic amenities promised under the program including writing materials, water, accommodation, and meals.
“Nyota is a government program spearheaded by the President, but Mercy and Associates Limited has failed us. There are no writing materials, no water, no accommodation, no transport reimbursement, and no training allowance,” said trainee Basil Nyikal. “We cannot continue under these conditions.”
The trainees questioned how a program with a substantial government budget — reportedly supported by partners including the World Bank — could be executed so poorly.
Christine Lokoel, a participant from Turkana West, decried the treatment as exploitative
“We, the Turkana community, support the Nyota project 100 percent, but that should not allow any company or consultant to take advantage of us. How can someone traveling over 400 kilometers be given only 500 shillings? Do you want us to sleep under trees, especially us women? We deserve respect.”
Another trainee, Edapal Christopher, recounted a tense exchange that deepened frustrations:
“They told us that if we don’t want the 500 shillings, we can just walk out of the room as if we are desperate. We are calling on the Nyota Initiative and the World Bank to replace Mercy and Associates Limited immediately.”
The walkout has drawn attention to accountability gaps in development projects and the need for stricter oversight of government contractors. Local leaders have joined the trainees in calling for swift intervention to ensure the program continues under fair and transparent management.
Attempts by journalists to reach Mercy and Associates Limited for comment were unsuccessful, as company officials reportedly left the venue shortly after the protest began.
As of the time of reporting, the Nyota Initiative Secretariat had not issued an official statement regarding the trainees’ grievances or the allegations against the consultancy firm
