By Abdullahi Jamaa | Wajir Today | Thursday, 30 April 2026
The Governor of Wajir County on Thursday called for restraint and national unity following rising tensions between Somali and Kamba communities, warning against the “ethnicisation of criminality” as the county prepares to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing works at Wajir Stadium, the main venue for the June 1 event, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi condemned recent incidents linked to livestock grazing disputes.
“I want to first of all condemn the criminality of those that are grazing their camel in people’s farms. It is not right,” Abdullahi said. “God has blessed us with rain. We have vegetation everywhere. There is no need for someone to take their camel into someone’s farm.”
While calling for accountability, Abdullahi cautioned against framing criminal acts along ethnic lines, warning that such narratives risk deepening divisions in a country known for its diversity.
“But we also don’t want the ethnicisation of criminality. When criminals commit a crime, the law must take its course,” he said. “We don’t want ethnic balkanisation of this country. We don’t want the tribalisation of criminality.”
The governor emphasised that Wajir has long been home to multiple communities living and working side by side, including Kamba and Meru traders and artisans who play a key role in the local economy.
“We live very peacefully with the Kamba people here. We live very peacefully with the Meru people here,” he said. “A lot of this work we’re seeing here has been done by people from Ukambani.
He warned against importing tensions from elsewhere into Wajir, saying such divisions could undermine both social cohesion and ongoing development efforts.
“So we don’t want those problems to be imported to us here. But we also want that to end. Those who killed must be brought to book,” Abdullahi said.
At the same time, he appealed to affected communities to allow the law to take its course rather than resorting to retaliation.
The remarks come as Wajir undergoes rapid transformation ahead of hosting the national Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time, a milestone event expected to draw visitors and officials from across the country.
Abdullahi stressed that maintaining peace is critical not only for community relations but also for the success of the national event.
“We are one country, we are one people,” he said. “Everywhere in this town you’ll find Kenyans from every single tribe and every single corner.”
The governor also warned that the tensions could disrupt key supply routes vital for ongoing development projects, including preparations for the national celebrations.
“We don’t want this escalating further,” he said. “As a leadership of northern Kenya, we’ll come together to address that matter publicly so that we try and de-escalate and bring down the tensions along that road.”
He added that the affected corridor is a critical artery for transporting construction materials into Wajir.
“It’s the same road that brings material for us, even to prepare for Madaraka Day,” Abdullahi said.
Calling for calm, the governor urged residents to prioritise unity and peaceful coexistence.
“We are neighbours, we are brothers and sisters. We are one people,” he said. “We want people to stay in peace and we also appeal for calm.”
