Mzee Maina Githongori (commonly known as Maina Ngozi) hands
over the petition to Garissa County Assembly Deputy Speaker Mustapha Abdirashid.Elders from Garissa county have petitioned the county assembly to rename key streets after distinguished local leaders, cultural icons and other eminent personalities.
They want the comprehensive geographic information system used to map and install modern and durable street signage to improve navigation, preserve heritage and support urban planning.
Led by the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council chairman, Dubat Amey and Mzee Maina Githongori, the group said honouring Garissa’s trailblazers through street names is long overdue.
Amey said the move not only promotes national identity and unity but also immortalises their legacy and ensures future generations remember their work.
“We want our children to walk on streets named after
those who contributed so much to society. This is a cultural reclamation of our
space and history,” he said.
Maina said many residents face difficulty in giving directions due to lack of signage, hence the urgent need
for GIS-based mapping to streamline urban mobility.
The petition, received by clerk Mohamud Santur, was presented in the presence of Deputy Speaker and Iftin MCA, Mustafa
Abdirashid.
The elders proposed a county-wide GIS mapping
initiative to accurately chart roads, lanes and landmarks within Garissa municipality and surrounding suburbs. This, they said, would enhance
service delivery, improve emergency response and assist new residents and
service providers in navigating the area.
They also recommended the installation of clear and
permanent signage across all major roads and public institutions, viewing it
not only as a tool for modern urban management but as a means of restoring
cultural dignity and civic pride among residents.
Abdirashid praised the elders for their initiative,
wisdom and patriotism, saying the committees on lands, housing, physical planning and urban development and roads and public works
would review the petition and engage the executive for further action.
“This is more than renaming streets. It’s about
identity, legacy and respect,” he said. “Our streets must reflect
the spirit of our people.”
Santur said elders are custodians of
invaluable historical memory that should be tapped into for documenting history. He urged them to ensure those recommended for
commemoration reflect the rich diversity of communities in Garissa.
MCAs Mahat Abdikadir (Madogashe), Abdirahman Muktar (deputy majority leader
and Ijara MCA), Abdirahman Mohamed (Sankuri), Abdiweli Aden (Saka), Idris Ismail
(Danyere), and Fatuma Adan (nominated) were present when the clerk received the petition.
Other elders were Ali Said, Khadija Ibrahim, Abdi Sheikh Hassan and
Samuel Kariuki.
If adopted, the initiative would mark a transformative
step in Garissa’s cultural revitalisation, ensuring future generations
live, work and walk through spaces that carry the names and legacies of their
community’s finest.
