The government has convened an inter-county peace meeting in Isiolo County as drought conditions raise the risk of conflict with the neighbouring counties.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the State Department for Interior and National Administration, held a meeting in Sericho, Garbatulla Sub-County, to address emerging tensions linked to competition for scarce water and pasture.
Following poor performance of the October–December 2025 short rains season which was characterised by late onset, uneven distribution and early cessation, the NDMA has reported that most arid and semi-arid areas received less than 75 percent of normal rainfall, leading to rapid depletion of water and pasture and increasing pressure on livelihoods and food security.
Isiolo County received some rainfall during the short rains season, but amounts remained below the long-term average. This has triggered an influx of livestock into Sericho Location from within the county and neighbouring areas that received little or no rainfall, increasing pressure on grazing areas and water points.
Officials said tensions have been compounded by reports of livestock being moved into designated drought grazing reserves without permits, veterinary clearance or coordination with local authorities.
NDMA warned that recurrent drought and conflict continue to undermine livelihoods, weaken social cohesion and erode community resilience, 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 nine counties of Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River are classified in the Alert Phase.
Several counties in the Normal Phase are also showing deteriorating trends, particularly in water access and livestock productivity, raising the likelihood of further deterioration during the January–March 2026 dry season.
The meeting was attended by NDMA Chief Executive Officer Lt. Col. (Rtd) Hared Adan, Garbatulla Deputy County Commissioner Charles Wandimi, Lagdera (Garissa) Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Ruto, Habaswein (Wajir) Deputy County Commissioner William Langat, and representatives of peace committees, security teams, chiefs and grazing committees from the affected sub-counties.
The NDMA CEO Lt Col. (Rtd) Adan said effective drought response must go beyond humanitarian assistance to address the underlying drivers of insecurity.
He said drought and conflict were closely linked, noting that scarcity of water and pasture heightens competition, threatens livelihoods and increases insecurity, making peace dialogue a critical part of drought response.
He said the inter-county talks were a hands-on early-action measure to stabilise conditions during the current dry season by engaging communities early to agree on peaceful resource-sharing arrangements as pastoralists move in search of water and pasture.
The meeting aimed to promote peaceful coexistence, strengthen negotiated access to shared resources and encourage communities to maintain peace while sharing limited water and pasture until the March–May long rains.
Lt Col (Rtd) Adan called for clear protocols to guide livestock migration and strict adherence to host community arrangements, adding that the National Government is working to cushion both pastoralists and farmers affected by drought while implementing long-term resilience measures.
Wandimi said orderly, negotiated access to water and pasture was the only sustainable basis for peaceful coexistence during drought, stressing the central role of elders, grazing and peace committees, and local leaders in mediation.
Elders from Isiolo urged migrating herders to respect local grazing guidelines that had earlier been agreed upon by all herders from Isiolo, Garissa and Wajir counties.
Langat thanked the Isiolo community for hosting herders from his Wajir side and pledged to work with elders to ensure agreed grazing regulations are observed.
Ruto from Garissa County praised the prevailing peace, attributing it to sustained efforts by NDMA and local peace and grazing committees, and appealed for continued patience and cooperation as communities share available rangeland until the next rains.
They all noted that the government should be committed to early engagement and coordinated actions that are essential to stabilising conditions, protecting livelihoods and preserving social cohesion.
They also underscored the need for commitment to closer collaboration among national and county governments, security agencies and community institutions.
By David Nduro
