Tension is rising in Isiolo County after local leaders and elders demanded justice over the alleged killing of five young men by security personnel in the Kom grazing area.
During a press briefing, Chari Ward MCA Hon. Halima Golle Abgundo and Borana Council of Elders Chairman Mohamed Konso led a chorus of condemnation, describing the incident as a blatant abuse of power by government forces. The leaders called for immediate accountability and urged the withdrawal of herders from Samburu and Marsabit counties, accusing them of unlawfully encroaching on Isiolo’s communal grazing lands.
According to local accounts, the slain youths were pursuing livestock reportedly stolen by rival groups when they were intercepted and shot by security officers. One more youth was injured and is said to be in custody in Wamba, Samburu County.
“The community has lost faith in government promises to recover stolen livestock,” said former MCA Hassan Kumpa, expressing frustration over years of unaddressed cattle rustling incidents.
He added:
“I myself have been a victim of cattle theft, and despite repeated assurances, no meaningful action has been taken. Instead, when community members try to reclaim their animals, they are met with brutal force.”
Leaders Condemn Escalating Violence
The Isiolo leaders further accused the Samburu County Governor of indirectly supporting the actions that led to the deaths, warning that such developments could worsen already strained inter-county relations.
They urged both the national government and relevant agencies to launch a swift, independent investigation into the killings and bring those responsible to justice.
Community members are also calling for a long-term solution to the recurring issues of livestock theft, border disputes, and land encroachment, which they say continue to destabilize peace and livelihoods in the northern region.
