The Turkana County Assembly is exploring areas of collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to strengthen legislative capacity, promote decent work and expand employment opportunities for young people in the county.
The discussions took place during a meeting in Nairobi involving Speaker of the County Assembly Rt. Hon. Charles Lokioto, Deputy Governor H.E. Dr. John Erus and an ILO delegation led by Ms. Caroline Njuki, Regional Chief Technical Advisor for the organisation's PROSPECTS Programme.
Dr. Erus chaired the engagement, which focused on identifying areas where the ILO could provide technical support to strengthen the Assembly's legislative and institutional functions.
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Key areas discussed included capacity building for Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and the Assembly Secretariat, technical assistance in legislative development, labour policy, decent work, youth employment, skills development and oversight of employment-related programmes.
Speaker Lokioto emphasised the importance of strengthening the Assembly's legislative, representation and oversight responsibilities through targeted technical assistance and institutional capacity development.
He noted that improved institutional capacity would support the Assembly in carrying out its mandate and contributing to responsive legislation and development priorities in Turkana County.
The engagement also explored opportunities to strengthen the county's approach to labour policy and employment programmes, particularly initiatives aimed at equipping young people with relevant skills and improving their access to decent work.
Focus on Youth Employment and Institutional Collaboration
The ILO's PROSPECTS Programme works to improve opportunities for refugees and host communities, including through skills development, employment and livelihoods initiatives.
Turkana is among the programme's focus areas, reflecting the importance of strengthening economic opportunities for both host communities and displaced populations. The programme also supports efforts to improve access to decent work and strengthen local employment systems.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Turkana County Assembly, the County Government and the ILO delegation to exploring a structured partnership that supports institutional development, inclusive employment opportunities and sustainable development.
The proposed collaboration is expected to provide a platform for further engagement on legislative support, labour-related policies and programmes targeting young people across the county.
No formal agreement or implementation timeline was announced in the information provided about the meeting.