By Peter Gitonga
Wednesday June 11, 2025
One person is confirmed to have died of cholera since the first case of the highly communicable disease was reported last month in Kakuma.
Turkana County Health Rapid Response Team (CHRRT) was informed that since the first case of the disease was detected on the 18th of May, only one fatality was confirmed amid fears that the highly contagious disease could further spread in the densely populated refugee camps in Kakuma.
A crisis meeting was held on Monday to evaluate the current status of the disease and come up with an action plan to contain further spread of the water borne disease in Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements areas.
The purpose was to share updates on the current situation, ongoing response, and highlight existing gaps in need of urgent support to contain further spread.
“As of June 8, 2025, there is one new case reported in Amusait Hospital located in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Since the first case was reported on May 18th, there have been a total of 74 reported cases with 30-laboratory confirmed cases, and one fatality,” the Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, Jane Rose Tioko said.
Tioko mentioned the county has initiated a rapid response in conjunction with relevant stakeholders to mobilise for support for strengthening preventive measures within the host and refugee communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei.
The team has already identified areas for strengthening response, including sensitizing healthcare workers and community health promoters on cholera detection and case management, boosting water supply, and improving water treatment at both the water sources and household level.
With the ongoing continued mass sensitization efforts and community engagement, the team also highlighted the need for additional healthcare workers to support the teams on ground and at the border points of entry.
The members present included technical working group leads, directors and program officers from the County Health Rapid Response Team.