Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo has called for an end to cattle rustling, banditry and revenge attacks following the killing of five people in Gotu last month.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Isiolo Central Sub-County on Tuesday, the county boss warned that insecurity threatens the county’s economic development.

The development comes even as the county boss leveraged the event to enumerate his administration's track record in the last four years.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Isiolo Central Sub-County on Tuesday, Guyo said peace and security were essential to attracting investors, strengthening the livestock economy and improving the livelihoods of residents.

The September 16 incident claimed the lives of two police officers, a National Police Reservist and two elders who had gone to search for a missing neighbour.

One of the victims was a Chief Inspector who had recently returned from a peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

The governor paid tribute to the victims, saying their sacrifice should inspire renewed efforts to protect communities and promote peaceful coexistence.

“He survived a foreign land only to fall at home,” Guyo said of the senior police officer, as he conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues.

He urged elders, religious leaders, youth, women and community institutions to take a leading role in resolving disputes, promoting reconciliation and preventing violence.

“We must reject cattle rustling, banditry, revenge attacks and all forms of violence that undermine our shared prosperity. The loss of even one life is a painful reminder of the work that remains to be done in safeguarding our communities,” he said.

Guyo said Isiolo’s strategic position as a link between northern Kenya and the rest of the country offered significant opportunities for trade and investment, but required communities to embrace dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect.

He also called for closer cooperation between security agencies and residents, describing security as a shared responsibility.

The governor made the remarks as he outlined his administration’s development agenda, with a focus on infrastructure, livestock production, healthcare and revenue mobilisation.

He said construction of the county headquarters was 63 per cent complete, with the project expected to be finished in May 2027.

The facility is expected to bring county government departments under one roof, improve coordination and make it easier for residents to access public services.

Hassan also cited the upgrading of the 1.1-kilometre Kambi-Odha Road to bitumen standards and said the Bulapesa bitumen road was expected to be completed by the end of November.

On livestock development, he said the Isiolo Northern Export Abattoir had been operationalised to strengthen the livestock value chain, create jobs and open up local and international markets for livestock products.

He urged livestock keepers and traders to form cooperatives and producer groups to enable them to supply the facility in bulk and negotiate better prices.

“I also call on Northern Abattoir Limited to give priority to local suppliers and local workers. Investors come where there is peace, which is why security and the economy can never be separated,” he said.

The governor said his administration was exploring opportunities to expand fodder production following an expo and market-linkage fair that connected producers with buyers, aggregators and investors.

He added that discussions with South Korean Ambassador to Kenya Kang Hyungshik had focused on the feasibility of a pilot animal-feed production project to improve livestock productivity and the quality of products destined for local and international markets.

With support from the World Bank, Hassan said fodder production initiatives were already underway across all 10 county wards.

The administration is also pursuing land valuation and revenue mobilisation measures under the National Rating Act, 2024.

Guyo said the county had issued a notice of intention to adopt a rating system covering Isiolo Municipality, including Ngaremara, Wabera, Bulapesa and Burat, as well as Kinna, Garbatulla, Sericho, Modogashe, Merti and Oldonyiro.

The public participation period runs from October 12 to December 11, 2026, with residents, landowners and business operators invited to submit their views.

He said a fair valuation roll would help secure land ownership, increase the county’s own-source revenue and support the growth of urban centres.

On healthcare, Guyo said the county had operationalised the Mother and Child Maternity Wing at Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital to improve maternal and newborn services.

He added that the county government was paying Social Health Authority contributions for 30,000 residents to improve access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable households.

The governor also said a multi-agency technical team had been established to coordinate preparedness and response measures against the potential effects of El Niño, with the aim of protecting lives, livelihoods and essential services.

Guyo said Mashujaa Day should serve as a reminder that heroism extended beyond historical freedom fighters to include public officers, community elders, young people and ordinary citizens working to improve society.

“Let us honour our heroes not merely through words, but through our actions and commitment to serving our communities,” he said.