Turkana County, now officially classified as a high malaria burden region, is launching a renewed effort to fight the disease through an expanded prevention campaign. With a malaria prevalence of 39 percent far above the national average of six percent the county is prioritizing more aggressive and targeted strategies to reduce infections.
Health officials have identified Turkana’s geographical location, bordering Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, as a key factor contributing to its high infection rates. High mobility in these cross-border areas, as well as dense populations in towns and refugee camps, makes malaria control particularly challenging.
In 2024, Turkana implemented its first-ever Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in Turkana Central Sub-county. The campaign showed promising results, reportedly reducing malaria infection rates in children by up to 70 percent. SMC involves administering a curative dose of antimalarial drugs to children regardless of infection status, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
Between May and October 2024, when malaria transmission was at its peak, over 40,000 children aged three to 59 months received five cycles of treatment. Each cycle, spaced 28 days apart, included a dispersible dose of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine. This drug combination offers extended protection to young children, who are particularly vulnerable due to their underdeveloped immunity.
County health authorities emphasize that prevention strategies must be robust and consistent, especially before the onset of rainy seasons, when malaria cases typically surge. Plans are underway for a second round of SMC across the county, including the Kakuma Refugee Camp, running from June to October 2025. This next phase will incorporate digital monitoring through the electronic Community Health Information System, aimed at enhancing real-time tracking and improving data-driven decision-making.
A growing concern in the region is the presence of the Anopheles stephensi mosquito, an invasive species that can transmit both the Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites. First identified in Lodwar and other parts of Turkana, the mosquito species is known for its adaptability to urban environments and resistance to existing insecticides. Its arrival in Kenya, likely through container transport from Ethiopia, has been linked to a surge in malaria cases since late 2023.
In response, Turkana has also benefited from nationwide malaria interventions. In September 2024, over 160,000 households in the county received Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) as part of a broader campaign targeting 22 high-burden counties.
Further, the county is working with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology on a research project exploring innovative solutions. The “Symbio Vector Controlling Malaria from Within” project in Katilu Ward is investigating the potential of using naturally inherited microbes to block malaria transmission by female mosquitoes.
Turkana health officials are committed to deploying integrated approaches that combine accurate data collection, evidence-based resource allocation, and community engagement. Past malaria control efforts in the county mainly centered on treatment and mosquito net distribution, but shifting mosquito behavior such as biting outdoors has reduced the effectiveness of these methods.
By investing in new strategies like SMC and cutting-edge research, the county aims to address both endemic transmission and seasonal malaria surges. The goal is to create a sustainable, community-focused approach to malaria control that can adapt to changing environmental and epidemiological conditions.
