State moves to avert clashes as migrant herders pour into Isiolo

Goats drink water from a natural spring at Kuri Bisan Owo pasture field in Merti Sub-County on December 2, 2025. [Ali Abdi, Standard]

The State has stepped up security and peace-building efforts in Isiolo County amid fears of clashes between host communities and migrant herders seeking pasture and water during the ongoing drought.

The move follows intelligence reports warning of a possible outbreak of violence between herders from Isiolo and those migrating from the North Eastern counties of Wajir and Garissa.

Tensions remain high in Kom grazing zones in Merti Sub-county, where at least 13 people were killed last year during clashes between migrant herders from Samburu East and Laisamis in Marsabit County and the host Isiolo community over access to pasture. A multi-agency security team has since been deployed to act as a buffer between rival groups, although no stakeholders’ peace meeting has been convened for the area.

In contrast, similar peace engagements have been held for herders in Garba Tula Sub-county, bringing together representatives of the host Isiolo community and migrant herders from Lagdera and Dujis in Garissa County, as well as Kinna Duba and Mulika in Meru County.

Herders from Banane in Lagdera graze in Boji, Duse and Kambi Samaki, while those from Dujis share pasture with Borana and Meru communities in Korbesa, Rapsu and Kinna in Isiolo, as well as Kinna Duba and parts of Meru National Park. However, tension remains high in Korbesa and Duse following the discovery of a migrant herder’s body. The incident is under investigation.

Last week, the government convened an inter-county peace forum at Sericho trading centre, bringing together stakeholders from Isiolo, Wajir and Garissa counties in a bid to prevent violence in areas where communities are now competing for limited pasture and water.

Thousands of herders, severely affected by the prolonged drought, have migrated with their livestock into Isiolo, one of the few areas that received some rainfall during the short rains season. Those from Wajir originated mainly from Habaswein in Wajir South Constituency, while herders from Garissa came from Lagdera.

The meeting, organised by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, focused on addressing rising tensions driven by intense competition for scarce resources.

While Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties recorded up to a 75 per cent rainfall failure, Isiolo received limited rainfall, albeit below the long-term average. This disparity has increased pressure on grazing areas and water points in Sericho and neighbouring locations. Some Isiolo elders expressed dissatisfaction with the influx, accusing neighbouring communities of poor rangeland management.

“These herders are either careless or lazy. They do not conserve their grazing areas and water points and exhaust their pasture quickly because they fail to reserve zones for use during lean times,” said an elder from Iresaboru, who identified himself only as Jillo.

Elders said Isiolo communities practise an age-old traditional pasture management system known as Dedha, which zones grazing areas and water points according to seasonal use. Areas close to settlements are used during the rainy season, while distant zones are reserved for drought periods.

Officials at the Sericho meeting noted that tensions had been worsened by reports of migrant herders moving livestock into designated drought grazing reserves without permits, veterinary clearance or coordination with local authorities.

The NDMA warned that recurrent drought and conflict continue to undermine livelihoods and social cohesion, particularly along the Isiolo–Garissa corridor, which has experienced repeated insecurity, displacement and stalled development.

According to the authority, Mandera County is currently in the Alarm drought phase, while Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River counties are classified under the Alert phase. Several counties previously in the Normal phase are also showing deteriorating trends in water access and livestock productivity, raising the risk of further decline during the January–March 2026 dry season.

Addressing the meeting, NDMA Chief Executive Officer Hared Adan said effective drought response must go beyond humanitarian assistance to address the root causes of insecurity.

“Drought and conflict are closely linked. Scarcity of water and pasture heightens competition, threatens livelihoods and increases insecurity. Peace dialogue must therefore be a central pillar of drought response,” Mr Adan said.

He described the inter-county talks as a “hands-on early-action measure” aimed at stabilising conditions during the current dry season by engaging communities early.