Rising cases of insecurity dominated Mashujaa Day celebrations, with national and county government officials calling on wrangling locals to co-exist peacefully.
Besides inter-clan conflicts, the leaders decried runway insecurity at Buffalo Springs and Shaba national reserves that had been taken over by armed herders from Turkana, Samburu and Somali communities.
"There are more cattle and goats in the parks than wild animals. Armed bandits have taken over the parks and this has affected tourism," said Mohammed Tubi, the Speaker of the County Assembly.
Mr Tubi said wildlife lovers worldwide were saddened by the killing of seven rare and endangered grevy zebras two weeks ago at Buffalo Springs following clashes between warring Turkana and Samburu herders.
"Grevy zebra species are found only in Kenya. In Kenya they are found in the northern tourism circuit, with Isiolo hosting the highest number. Killing them has hurt us a lot," said Tubi.
October 2012 census showed grevy zebra population had declined to 1,870 from 2,400 in 2008.
Inter-clan clashes
The leaders, who included Governor Godana Doyo, Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal and Senator Fatuma Dhullo (nominated) and Assembly Minority Leader Moses Kithinji, also condemned the inter-clan clashes between the various communities in the county and with neighbouring clans from Samburu and Meru.
"Incidences of inter-community clashes that has left many killed and property lost are indeed some of the outcomes and manifestation of historical injustices that has forced our people to compete for scarce resources," said Mr Doyo.
The governor called on the national government to decisively address issue of insecurity adding that leaders inciting their communities against others must be arrested and charged in court.
He claimed that there are leaders who are "even using Government funds to buy guns for their communities to fight others" adding that action must be taken against them.
County Commissioner George Natembeya said he would lead a mop-up exercise in the parks to disarm and kick out the herders.
"I am not going to compromise with anyone. I will come up with ways that will end the madness of cattle rustling. Isiolo is getting negative publicity because we even block our roads," said the newly posted commissioner.
Meanwhile, three people have been killed in two separate incidents in Isiolo Central over the last three days.
On Sunday evening, a boda-boda rider and miraa dealer were killed within Kipsing location by armed men. The attackers stole the motor bike.
The duo was on their way back from Kipsing in Oldonyiro after delivering a cargo of miraa earlier in the day.
"One of them was shot dead while the other was knifed to death," said a police source.
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto confirmed the incident.
"The police have recovered the stolen motorbike this morning (yesterday) and they are looking for the suspects," said Mr Kipchumba.
In a separate incident, a boda-boda rider was shot dead and his motorbike stolen early on Saturday night near Safi estate in Isiolo town.
According to the administrator, the rider was among a group of sand harvesters who were on their way to Kilimani to fetch building materials late in the night.
No arrests have so far been made while the motorbike is yet to be recovered.
Meanwhile, Isiolo administration handed over 127 cattle confiscated from the Turkana community last Friday.
The government handed over the animals detained at Isiolo stadium yesterday after the community leaders produced names of suspects who killed one person and injured two others at Maili Saba area in Buuri Constituency in Meru County.
In protest, the residents of Maili Saba blocked the Isiolo-Nairobi highway for hours, forcing the Government to deploy the army to reopen the road last Friday.
