The governor of Isiolo County, Guyo Abdi Ibrahim, has been on an extensive tour of Isiolo county’s strategic grazing rangelands of Charri and Cherab for the past few days.
The aim of the trip was to connect with the local communities and hear firsthand, the challenges they face in their daily livelihoods. The governor also distributed food items and other essential goods which was greatly appreciated by the herders.
The visit comes amid reports of a few cases of insecurity and livestock theft witnessed in the area. The latest incident being the theft of about 31 camels stolen at Babala, Charri ward.
Governor Guyo has held wide-ranging discussions with the pastoralist communities over their welfare and security. He has also assured them that his administration will do all it can to make sure that the pastoralist communities are safe from raids and livestock theft.
He called on Kithure Kindiki, the cabinet secretary for internal security to move with speed and ensure the stolen camels are returned to their lawful owners.
Over the course of the visit, the governor has inspected a number of community projects initiated by his administration such as boreholes watering pans which has significantly eased the livelihoods of the local communities who often have to travel long distances in search of watering points for their livestock.
Governor Guyo emphasized to the herders that he has his mind firmly set on the development of the region and that he has relegated politics to the back banner until its appropriate time. “I am here on a development tour, not politics. When the right time comes, we will get into that,” said the Governor.
However, the icing on the cake for the local herders was governor Guyo’s revelation about the nearing completion of the Isiolo Abattoir which will provide a ready market for their livestock and provide them with the value for money for their livestock.
Governor Guyo was accompanied by the speaker of Isiolo County Assembly, Mohamed Roba who reiterated the governor’s passion in working for the people.
The speaker further assured the local communities that, as the assembly, they will be doing everything in their power to ensure Governor Guyo’s mandates are swiftly expedited whenever it comes to the floor of the house.
He also hailed the good working relationship he and the assembly enjoys with the governor emphasizing that the rapid development being experienced in Isiolo County is as a result of this smooth relationship.
The residents were not only overjoyed but also smitten by the governor and his entourage spending days and nights in their shacks, locally referred to as ‘gosse’-(temporary structures where herders reside as they move about with their livestock.)
In all, the governor and his entourage spent around four days in the grazing zones allowing him quality time to get feedback on the progress of his administration’s projects in the area.
The local communities were visibly elated by the visit and has urged him to make this a norm while saying such visits have never been witnessed previous administrations.
