Political goodwill critical to Isiolo County's peace

As the year 2018 comes to an end, a look at one of Kenya’s potential hotspots, Isiolo County, is appropriate. Geographically at the centre of Kenya, Isiolo county mirrors some of Kenya’s challenges; a convergence point for different interest groups. Starting as a colonial administrative centre, the town has a sense of insecurity due to large influxes of small arms and light weapons from Ethiopia and Somalia.

The relation between the county and national government on one side, and the Isiolo business community on the other appears frosty. The Isiolo business community worries about banks closing because operators feel insecure. The town looks sleepy in the midst of complex challenges.