Investigations have started against politicians and other leaders in Marsabit County accused of engaging in hostile activities that could jeopardize the existing peace in the region.
Marsabit acting county commissioner David Saruni also announced finalized plans by the Ruto administration to connect Marsabit town and other parts of the county to the national electricity grid at cost of Sh4 billion.
Mr Saruni who spoke at the Marsabit stadium after reading this year presidential speech cautioned some leaders alleged to be spreading hatred between communities that stern legal action would be taken against them.
The county commissioner expressed concern that there were people who were yet to embrace harmony after the government and other actors employed enormous effort and resources to restore peace which had eluded the county for a long time.
He warned community radio FM stations operating in the area of dire consequences if they offered platform to inciters.
“Peace and harmony had eluded this county for long periods during which life and programs was disrupted,” he noted and asked Marsabit residents to shun inciters and eschew acts of violence.
Mr Saruni asked operators of the community radio stations to observe laid down regulations in order to avoid being used by inciters as avenues through talk shows and call-in programmes to further their ill-intentioned agenda.
On development, the county commissioner said the county which draws electricity from generators operated by the Kenya Power and Lightning (KPLC) company said the government will connect the county to the national grid with clean energy to be tapped from the Lake Turkana Wind Power project.
This, he said would enable the residents to access to cheaper electricity supply besides spurring industrial growth and creating employment.
The project set to start in September this year will also have the connection extended to Isiolo county and be completed within 24 months.
In his remarks governor Mohamud Ali asked politicians against planting seeds of discord among peace loving residents by preaching tribal politics and hatred.
Governor Ali observed that much development has been achieved under his leadership due to the prevailing peace and urged locals to jealously safeguard the achieved peace and continue coexisting in harmony their multi-ethnic composition notwithstanding.
He asked the security agents to move with speed and tame the hostile activities by taking action against culprits irrespective of their status in society.
“Mzipo ziba ufa mtajenga ukuta,” Governor Ali cautioned the county security team and asked them to ensure that that the county is not let to slide back to anarchy.
The governor commended the Kenya Kwanza administration for being sensitive to the plight of communities in arid and semi -arid regions of the country whom he said were bearing blunt of the climate change.
He asked the residents to fully support the wind power electricity project intended to connect the county to the national grid saying it was set to transform their lives in a big way.
The governor pointed out that the devolved unit with the support of the national government and partners continues to make strides in development especially in the health, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
By Sebastian Miriti
