ISIOLO-Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to drug traffickers using the Ethiopia-Marsabit-Isiolo route, ordering them to halt their operations immediately or face severe legal consequences. Speaking during a Women and Students Groups engagement in Oldonyiro, Isiolo County, the CS confirmed that intelligence tracks illegal narcotics entering Kenya from Ethiopia via Marsabit before reaching Isiolo.
To tackle local crime and improve security, the CS announced plans to establish a dedicated police camp in Oldonyiro. The facility will focus on maintaining peace, curbing livestock theft, and recovering illegal firearms. While National Police Reservists have already been deployed to the region, Murkomen assured residents that additional personnel will be posted soon to boost operational capacity.
The government also plans to decentralize essential services to improve accessibility for local communities. As part of this effort, recruitment drives for the police, military, and other security agencies will now be conducted directly within Oldonyiro, creating job opportunities for local youth. Meanwhile, infrastructure development is progressing, with construction ongoing on the Nkare Ndare road to eliminate the need for long-distance travel to access basic amenities.
Addressing public participation, Murkomen urged residents to obtain national identity cards and register as voters, warning that neglecting these steps leads to political and social exclusion. On political tolerance, the CS condemned leaders who hire goons for public gatherings, citing a recent incident in Homa Bay where politicians brought disruptors to a Linda Mwananchi event despite existing security presence.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, who also attended the event, appealed to the national government to provide an operational security vehicle for Oldonyiro. During her speech, Senator Dullo officially declared her candidacy for the Isiolo Gubernatorial seat in the next general election, stating that the governorship would give her greater leverage to drive development projects. She also expressed the region’s support for President William Ruto’s second-term bid and thanked the government for delivering relief food to Oldonyiro under its special distribution program.
