TURKANA – As the 2027 General Election draws closer, the Turkana community in Isiolo County has begun its traditional process of identifying and nominating candidates for various political positions, popularly known as negotiated democracy, in which elders play a crucial role in determining the political direction of their community.
Over the weekend, members of the Turkana community living in Isiolo met at Kiwanja area in Ngaramara Ward, where they resolved to consolidate their support behind the retention of the Isiolo North parliamentary seat and the Deputy Governor’s position, both currently held by members of the Turkana community.
The community also agreed to reserve other elective positions for negotiations with other major communities living in Isiolo County, in a strategy aimed at building strong political alliances and securing enough numbers to enhance their chances of success in next year’s elections.
Speaking during the meeting, community leaders said the unity witnessed among the Turkana during the 2022 General Election remains intact and will be carried forward into the 2027 elections.
Ngaramara Ward MCA, Peter Losu said the community remains firmly behind Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal Lomwa, whom he described as a key political leader and an important representative of the Turkana community.
“The unity and togetherness that we had as the Turkana community in 2022 is still intact, and will remain so as we approach 2027. Our beloved MP, who is the king of the Turkana community, is Hon. Joseph Samal Lomwa,” Losu said.
He said the Turkana community has experienced political leadership and has elders capable of guiding members on the candidates and positions the community should support.
“Our community has leaders who can organise and guide us on the direction we should take. These are the people who will decide where our community is heading. On other matters, people should remain calm and stop the political noise,” he said.
The leaders also dismissed claims of divisions within the Turkana community, saying they would not be distracted by individuals allegedly attempting to create divisions for political purposes.
“There are people making noise here and there. We do not count that noise. These are people who are hungry and have been sent to cause confusion. We are not afraid,” the Member of County Assembly said.
He maintained that the Turkana community remains united and will seek to consolidate its votes behind candidates agreed upon through the community’s traditional consultation process.
“This is a community that we know is together. Our votes will go in one direction as the Turkana community. There will never be a time when the Turkana community will split or become divided,” he said.
Losu further warned outsiders against attempting to interfere with the internal affairs of the Turkana community, insisting that the community is now even more united than it was during the 2022 elections.
“The Turkana community is not divided. I know there are people who are using this opportunity to interfere with our community, but I want to tell them that the Turkana community is strong, even stronger than it was in 2022,” he said.
The MCA also reaffirmed their support for the leaders they said had been endorsed by the community, including Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal Lomwa and Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo.
“We want to make it clear that the leaders we have chosen, starting with Hon. Samal and His Excellency Governor Guyo, are the leaders whom we respect as a community,” he said.
The meeting comes as political consultations intensify across Isiolo County ahead of the 2027 General Election, with communities seeking to negotiate strategic alliances while maintaining strong representation in elective positions.
For the Turkana community, leaders said unity, negotiated democracy and strategic partnerships with other communities will be central to determining their political influence and electoral success in the 2027 General Election.
