Isiolo county is on high alert following the shooting of Mzee Idle Hassan, Secretary General of the Somali Council of Elders, who was attacked near Jamia Mosque in the town center on Thursday evening.

The incident, which took place around 8 pm shortly after evening prayers, has raised alarm over the safety of community leaders and the stability of the region.

Mzee Idle was rushed to hospital in critical condition, with medical officials closely monitoring his health. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo suggests a political angle, linking the attack to Mzee Idle’s firm opposition to a recent failed impeachment process.

“This brazen and cowardly act appears to be linked to his firm stance against the recently failed impeachment process,” Governor Guyo said in a statement. He further warned about the presence of suspected Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) operatives in Isiolo, whose aim may be to instill fear and undermine the peace maintained by the community for over twenty years.

The governor has called on security agencies to intensify investigations and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. “I urge our security agencies to move swiftly and decisively to investigate this heinous crime, bring the perpetrators to justice, and reassure the people of Isiolo of their safety and protection,” he said.

Mzee Idle Hassan has been a central figure in peacebuilding and conflict resolution in Isiolo and the wider northern Kenya region. His leadership within the Somali Council of Elders has helped maintain dialogue and stability among communities.

The attack has heightened anxiety among locals and leaders who have previously expressed concerns about increasing political tensions and the possible involvement of armed groups seeking to disrupt peace efforts in the county.