A growing sense of urgency has now gripped Parliament as insecurity in Isiolo County continues to worsen, with lawmakers warning that repeated security interventions have failed to bring lasting calm.
The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities on Thursday said the situation is sliding further into instability, driven by persistent violence linked to cattle rustling and competition over key resources.
The concerns were raised during a committee sitting at Bunge Towers, where legislators examined reports from recent peace consultations held with communities and stakeholders in Isiolo.
The findings revealed a continuing pattern of attacks and retaliation, tied to organised cattle rustling and unresolved disputes over grazing land, water sources, schools and health facilities.
The committee, chaired by Mandera West MP Adan Yussuf Haji, said the security response on the ground has not matched the scale of the problem, even with what they believe is adequate deployment in the region.
“Cattle rustling in Isiolo has become commercialised, which is why it persists. The government should deal with the matter once and for all,” said Haji.
He added that only a coordinated and sustained crackdown can break the cycle of violence, warning that fragmented efforts have allowed the crisis to continue for years without resolution.
Yussuf Hassan, the Kamukunji MP, questioned whether current security funding is translating into real protection for affected communities in Isiolo. He pointed to what he described as gaps in enforcement and accountability within the security system.
“The Ministry receives significant funding and has no reason not to address insecurity in Isiolo permanently,” he said.
He also urged urgent action on long-standing disputes over grazing areas, water access, schools and healthcare services, saying these remain central triggers of conflict in the region.
From Samburu East, Jackson Lekumontare raised even deeper concern, alleging that elements within the security system may be worsening the crisis by enabling armed groups.
“Rogue police officers are arming bandits with bullets, fuelling violence in affected areas of Isiolo,” he alleged.
Other members of the committee, including Duncan Mathenge, Joshua Oron, Martin Owino and Joseph Iraya Wainaina, warned that continued insecurity is eroding livelihoods, deepening fear and weakening social cohesion among communities in the county.
The committee said it will now develop and table firm recommendations aimed at restructuring security operations and addressing the root causes of the long-running conflict in Isiolo.
