The government has operationalised the Cherab subcounty in Isiolo in a bid to improve security and take services closer to residents.
Cherab subcounty was made operational on Friday with Interior CS Kindiki Kithure installing Andrew Omollo as the first deputy county commissioner.
The move came 17 months after Cherab was gazetted as the fourth subcounty in Isiolo. It was hived off the vast Merti subounty and was gazetted in March 2022.
Kindiki said government officers should strive to ensure that the people of Cherab get the best services.
He was speaking at Malkagalla from where he operationalised the new administrative unit by opening the subcounty office.
Kindiki warned national government administrators against laxity.
“Senior administrators such as regional commissioners should regularly move out of the comfort of their respective offices and have more presence in their other locations of jurisdiction,” he said.
The CS noted that during the current financial year, the government is committed to operationalise all the 29 subcounties that were gazetted but are yet to become operational, with two more in Isiolo, namely Sericho and Oldonyiro.
Kindiki cited budget constraints as the main challenge derailing the planned operationalisation, but expressed optimism that the remaining ones will also become fully operational soon.
Going further, the CS noted that the government will also establish specially formed units at Yamicha and Mlango to combat the incessant banditry attacks and cattle rustling in the respective regions.
Kindiki also pledged to boost security officers with an additional 290 National Police Reservists that will be distributed across the County, with priority being accorded to the insecurity-prone areas.
County leaders led by Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo and the County Woman Rep Mumina Bonaya hailed the move by President William Ruto’s government to heed appeals by the people of Isiolo to have the Cherab subcounty operationalised.
They argued that the move would go a long way towards coordinating government services, therefore benefitting the local population, especially through enhanced security along the troubled border with Wajir county.
Governor Guyo stated that to facilitate his administration's delivery of services to locals, the new subcounty will also improve access to national government services for county residents.
“I am confident that today's operationalisation exercise will reignite hope for a better future for the many residents of villages and wards that make up the new subcounty,” he said.
With the new subcounty in place, the governor said that response to insecurity incidents will be expedited and the registration of persons will be manageable.
The county boss further said that the matter of the Wajir County administration drilling a borehole in a disputed area had already been resolved and the process stopped following talks between him and his Wajir County counterpart.
He asked residents of Cherab subcounty to remain calm and ignore rumours that a conflict was brewing in the region over the matter.
Guyo said the county will partner with the national government to establish a special unit at Mlango and Yamicha. The unit will be operational by the end of this month.
Bonaya asked CS Kindiki to consider fast-tracking the operationalisation of the remaining two subcounties of Sericho and Oldonyiro which have also been gazetted, in order to help bring government services closer to the people.
She further lobbied for the gazettement of two other sub counties Ngaremara and Kinna.
Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Roba called on the CS to finalise the provision of NPR to areas that are prone to conflict.
Bonaya said the NPR will greatly help in combating the increasing cases of cattle rustling and deter raids.
About Cherab
Isiolo has three subcounties—Isiolo, Merti and Garbatula.
Cherab is among three other subcounties including Sericho and Oldonyori- which were gazetted in March 2022 but had not yet operationalised.
Cherab is located 40 kilometres from Merti Township and approximately 240 km from Isiolo town.
It is in Isiolo county and lies to the Northeast of the Isiolo subcounty, North of Merti subcounty and borders Hadado and Wajir west sub-counties along the Northeastern regional boundary on the East. It borders the Laisamis subcounty of Marsabit county to the west.
The population of Cherab subcounty stands at 27,246 as per the 2019 population census and the population density is 3 persons per sq km.
However, currently, the population is projected to be 30,000.
Its main population is comprised of the Borana whose main economic activity and livelihood is pastoralism.
The security situation in Cherab has been relatively calm with a few incidences of insecurity being reported.
Cherab has been marred with security threats with the major crimes in the area being cattle rustling/stock theft from neighbouring counties.
There has also been a boundary dispute between Cherab and Wajir West/ Hadado sub-counties.
Other threats as highlighted by the Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding include competition for water and pasture, small arms and light weapons and politics based on clannism among others.
Hotspot areas in Cherab that have been identified by the security personnel are Yamicha, Duma areas, Madowale and Alango.
In terms of Infrastructure, the road furniture is wanting as it only comprises one major classified road crossing the county which is Merti Dadacha Bassa – Wajir road.
“The road is not very good, especially during the rainy season. Other roads can be classified as security roads including the road to Yamicha, Duma and Urura but they are all in bad condition,” Omoding said.
Cherab is water-stressed, and most of the boreholes contain saline water.
However, Governor Guyo drilled a pipe that has been constructed from Merti to Biliqi and currently supplying water up to Biliqi.
