I will make isiolo indelible region

With Godana Doyo

 Isiolo serves as a crucial and strategic gateway between Northern and Southern Kenya.

Through Isiolo, the greater horn of Africa, the Gulf States and the Arabian Peninsula are easily accessible for trade.

The railway line which will pass through the town and a modern highway will firm up the interconnectivity between Isiolo and other regions. My team and I are working to deliver quality services and fulfill the promises we made during campaign period.

The County Executive Committee and the County Public Service Board are working hand in hand to complete an audit of staff.  We are conducting head counts of former county council employees to weed out ghost workers, if any, and streamline public service. My team is also in the process of handling perennial problems affecting us.

Land has been a big issue in Isiolo. I recently ordered suspension of all land transaction to resolve conflicts and enable an audit of the current land situation.

Tourism destination

The haphazard manner in which land has been allocated to both locals and investors from outside the county has not been beneficial to our economy which is based on agro- pastoralism hence the need to overhaul the system.

But for all of us to enjoy the benefits of these projects and other reforms, we must shake off the perception that we are plagued by insecurity.

Isiolo has in the past been depicted as an insecure area because of clashes in the rural areas perpetuated by cattle rustlers. As a matter of fact, residents suffer the attacks perpetuated by neighbouring counties who still habour the outdated culture.

Over a period of time, armed conflict has been scaled down tremendously. We are working together with the governors of the neighbouring counties to criminalise the practice, legislate and ensure stiffer penalties for cattle rustling and avoid cloaking the menace as a cultural necessity.

Isiolo is a key tourism destination and my government is working closely with existing conservancies; NRT, Nasuulu, Nakrupat- Gotu, Biliqo Bulesa and others being established to conserve the environment as well as enhance livelihoods for locals.

We have three great game reserves; Shaba Game reserves, Buffalo Springs and Bisan Adi which are being restructured to become world class and tourism attractions locally and globally. They have not been adequately branded and marketed.

Zero tolerance

I intend to empower community conservancies with resources and will focus on eradicating poaching. My administration is working in conjunction with the National Government to identify and nab suspected poachers.

All poachers, middle-men and brokers who conduct their businesses within Isiolo should know their days are numbered as my government is embracing a zero tolerance policy on poaching. We are also in the process of sealing loopholes in tourism revenue collection.

In the financial year 2010/2011, the defunct Isiolo County Council realised Sh200 million, which was about 50 per cent of the revenue the local authority managed to collect.

To ensure efficiency and seal any loopholes, I have appointed a taskforce to review revenue collection systems by making them tight for the county to avoid losing revenue through counterfeit receipts and other forms of mischief.

The taskforce is seeking to evaluate the use of e-ticketing for tourism collection and also look at the personnel in the tourism sector.

 One of our crown jewels as a county is a multi-million shilling abattoir that is nearing completion. The abattoir was built with funding from the African Development Bank to the tune of approximately Sh350 Million.

We currently require an additional Sh50 million to complete the project, which we hope to be complete soon. Upon its completion, about 100 goats and sheep, 200 cows and 100 camels will be slaughtered at the facility daily.

This will boost the county’s economy where about 80 per cent of the population relies on livestock for their livelihood.

My government also has a special plan to enhance the role of the youth. I intend to involve them in projects taking place in the county through sports, employment opportunities and education.

Our future is bright and the key lies in cooperation with the community, leaders, County Assembly and Public Service Board.

 As the first governor of this great county, I am determined to pay undivided attention to untapped potentials that Isiolo has in abundance and turn around the historical challenges into indelible opportunities.