Isiolo, Kenya – The Borana Council of Elders (BCE) has reaffirmed its political neutrality ahead of the 2027 General Election, dismissing reports linking the council to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
Speaking at a press briefing in Isiolo, the council’s leadership said it had not endorsed any political party and urged the public to disregard claims suggesting it had resolved to join DCP.
The clarification follows reports that the council’s technical adviser, Yusuf Huka Jillo, recently visited DCP Secretary General Senator John Methu at his Mugumo home in Nyandarua County.
During the visit, Jillo reportedly presented four goats as a gift and claimed he had been sent by the Borana Council of Elders to initiate political ties with the party.
However, the council’s Chairman, Mohamed Konso Halo, accompanied by Deputy Secretary General Hussein Boru and Treasurer Hassan Shano, distanced the council from the visit, saying Jillo neither represented the elders nor had authority to speak on their behalf.
“The Borana Council of Elders has not made any decision to join the Democracy for Citizens Party or any other political party. Mr. Yusuf Jillo acted on his own and was never delegated by this council to represent us before Senator Methu or any other political leader,” Halo said.
The elders emphasized that their priority remains addressing issues affecting the Borana community rather than engaging in partisan politics. They cited unresolved community land registration disputes, insecurity, and governance concerns as key matters requiring urgent attention.
The council also opposed the reported allocation of disputed land in the Magadho area by the neighbouring Meru County Government for the construction of a police training facility, arguing that the local community was not adequately consulted before the decision was made.
In addition, the elders expressed concern over insecurity affecting pastoralists in Isiolo County, alleging that some herders had lost their lives during security operations involving armoured vehicles. They said repeated appeals for investigations and accountability had yet to yield satisfactory action.
“The pain within our community remains unresolved. Families have lost loved ones, and many questions remain unanswered. These issues continue to concern us deeply,” the council leaders said.
The Borana Council of Elders maintained that it will continue focusing on advocating for the welfare of the community while remaining independent of political parties as the country heads toward the 2027 polls.
