During this year’s European Liaison Committee (ELC) meeting, hosted at the PROCMURA Central Office in Nairobi, Kenya, partners from across Africa and Europe took time out from the official sessions to visit PROCMURA’s Women and Youth Empowerment Centres in the troubled Turkana County, in the northern part of the country.

Turkana County spans one of the largest geographical areas in Kenya, yet it remains among the most economically marginalised, with national data consistently showing that a significant majority of households live below the poverty line. Livelihoods largely depend on pastoralism, small-scale trade, and informal labour, all of which are vulnerable to drought, insecurity, and market disruptions. In parts of the Turkana–West Pokot border, recurring conflict over resources continues to disrupt schooling, income generation, and mobility. Women and young people bear the brunt of this ongoing conflict.

_{A section of the local community who braved the harsh conditions to come and receive the PROCMURA delegation.}

It was within this context that a delegation from PROCMURA and its partners visited the Women and Youth Empowerment Centres in the region, specifically in Lokichar and Kainuk. The visit formed part of a broader ELC engagement to assess how PROCMURA’s work at the grassroots continues to uplift livelihoods and empower communities to live together peacefully, irrespective of their religious backgrounds, particularly in environments marked by prolonged economic pressure and social fragility.

The Centres, established in partnership with the Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA) and housed in their local churches in the region, directly address these realities. They provide structured, stable spaces where women and young people acquire practical skills that translate into income, directly contributing to their self-reliance as individuals and as a community.

_{The Programme Officer of PROCMURA, Rev. Dr. Salli Effungani, officially welcoming partners to the organisation's Maridadi Women and Youth Empowerment Centre in Lokichar, Turkana County.}

The deliberate approach that links skills development with relationship-building across religious and social divides recognises that economic vulnerability and mistrust often reinforce one another because, in such environments, people, especially young people, are easily manipulated by those seeking to sow discord.

_{Welcoming the PROCMURA delegation.}

At the Lokichar Empowerment Centre, the women have mainly been producing school uniforms for the nearby schools, providing a steady source of income. That consistency has enabled households to plan for school fees, food, and other essentials with greater confidence.

Additionally, the women also produce reusable sanitary pads, addressing another pressing need in the local community. In many families, limited access to such supplies has affected girls’ attendance at school. Through local production and distribution, the Centres have reduced this barrier. Women earn income by meeting a need within their own community, and girls remain in class with fewer interruptions.

_{The PROCMURA delegation dressed by the women from the centre.}

On the other hand, the young people at the Lokichar Youth Empowerment Centre receive training in computer literacy and digital skills, with the option to further develop them. In a county where casual labour dominates and formal employment options are scarce, these skills have broadened their opportunities.

During the visit, partners engaged directly with trainees, instructors, church leaders, and local community members, who came out in large numbers to meet them. The community's welcome was particularly warm. Many have witnessed the Centres' growth from their early stages and now regard them as shared spaces that belong to them.

_{Partners interacting with the beneficiaries of the empowerment centres.}

The national leadership of RCEA, through its Secretary General, Rev. Dr. Ariko Ekitala, and the hosting local church, expressed appreciation for the partnership and the programme's steady presence, which met tangible needs.

_{Rev. Dr. Ariko making his remarks during the visit.}

The field visit enabled partners to observe how PROCMURA’s work on Christian–Muslim relations intersects with the economic resilience of local communities as trust builds through sustained interaction in the course of everyday work. The approach incorporates livelihoods and social cohesion, recognising their interdependence.

_{The PROCMURA delegation at the official commissioning of a water project by RCEA.}

In her remarks, the Team Leader of PROCMURA, Ms Joy Wandabwa, noted that the Centres in Turkana demonstrate what can be achieved when local churches, communities, and partners remain committed to a noble cause, particularly for the most vulnerable members of the community.

During the visit, the team of PROCMURA and its partners distributed humanitarian aid to th evulnerable members of the local community who came to receive the delegation.

_{The Chairperson of PROCMURA's European Partners, Rev. Dr. Andrew Ashdown, led the aid distribution.}

The visit offered partners a clear view of how locally anchored empowerment initiatives go a long way towards strengthening livelihoods while reinforcing cross-religious cooperation in regions long affected by religious, ethnic and even political mistrust and suspicion, which at times flare into deadly conflicts.