Seventy-one chiefs in Garissa County have not undergone formal training, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama security forum meeting in Garissa on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the CS stressed the need to equip local administrators with skills to handle emerging challenges in governance and security.
Murkomen said Garissa, a hub of livestock farming, trade, and irrigated agriculture, remains relatively peaceful, underscoring how security and development are interlinked.
He highlighted ongoing government projects—including the Isiolo–Mandera highway and the Garissa–Dadaab–Liboi and Lamu–Ijara–Garissa roads.
CS Murkomen said the projects will stimulate economic growth and bolster security once completed.
He praised the multi-agency security team for containing cross-border threats from Somalia, citing close cooperation between communities and security agencies.
However, he acknowledged that land disputes, resource conflicts, and inter-clan rivalries remain pressing challenges.
“Elders have been very instrumental in resolving these issues,” Murkomen said.
He added “the government is developing a framework to strengthen their role and facilitate land adjudication.”
On the Dadaab Refugee Complex, the CS expressed concern over the impact of donor budget cuts, which have caused food and water shortages.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to the Shirika Plan, which aims to boost investment and opportunities for both host and refugee communities.
“Dadaab has already been upgraded to a municipality, and several infrastructure projects are lined up for implementation,” he said.
The forum brought together Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Lagdera MP Abdikadir Mohamed, Garissa County Speaker Abdi Idle Gure, MCAs, senior security chiefs, and representatives from government agencies, including Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Mohamed Amin.