Why Turkana County Needs Urbanisation Now More Than Ever
Kenya is steadily moving towards a highly urbanised future. As cities grow and rural populations migrate towards urban centres, experts warn that proper planning is necessary to ensure that the benefits of urbanisation, economic growth, efficient public services, and stable communities, are fully realised.
For Turkana, a county with vast land and enormous untapped potential, urbanisation is not just a development option; it is a necessity.
1. Using land wisely: Turkana can be a success story.
Turkana is larger than most countries in the world. Its size alone proves that with proper planning, the county can host modern towns, industrial zones, agricultural hubs, and tourism cities without displacing culture or traditions. Few places on the continent have such space and opportunity. With the right vision, Turkana can become a global success story of how previously marginalised regions transformed through rethinking and urbanisation.
2. Urbanisation can reduce insecurity along borderline.
Insecurity along Turkana’s borders with neighbouring regions and countries has continued to affect communities. The truth is simple: empty or sparsely populated border zones invite conflict, cattle rustling, and territorial disputes. Once Turkana people occupy and develop these areas through well planned towns, markets, and settlements, security will naturally follow. Urbanisation becomes a peaceful way of protecting the county’s boundaries.
3. Efficient use of resources
Turkana’s scattered population has made service delivery extremely costly. The county has built many ECDE centres, but because families are widely spread in small homesteads, the facilities end up being underutilised. Urbanisation brings people closer together. Schools, hospitals, water systems, roads, and electricity become easier and cheaper to provide. Instead of stretching resources across thousands of kilometres, services can be centralised and more effective.
4. Unlocking commercial agriculture and dairy farming
Turkana’s potential for modern dairy and livestock farming remains largely untapped. The county already produces some of the best meat in Kenya, yet it is rarely marketed outside the region. With proper urban centres, processing facilities, cold storage, abattoirs, transport networks, and markets, Turkana can finally enter the national and international meat trade. Urbanisation makes commercialisation possible.
5. Supporting the next generation
Urban centres create jobs, improve education, power industries, and reduce dependency. For the county’s youthful population, this means real economic empowerment and a break from cycles of poverty.
In Conclusion
Urbanising Turkana is not about abandoning traditional life; it is about organising settlement and development in a way that increases security, reduces poverty, improves services, and unlocks economic growth. With its massive land, strategic location, livestock wealth, and youthful population, Turkana can be the perfect example of how smart urban planning transforms a region. Kenya is headed towards a highly urbanised future. Turkana must not be left behind.’
Article By Yasin Yusuf Ali, Social-political analyst
