The Turkana community of Samburu County, through the Ngirerea Akide Professional Association (NAPA) chaired by Ernest Nadome, has expressed both appreciation and concern following President William Ruto’s recent visit to the region.
In their message, the community commended the President for his Kes 1.5 billion road project, which includes the tarmacking of the Baragoi–Maralal Road and the improvement of the Baragoi–Opiroi–Sere Olipi murram road, as well as the Kes 190 million Baragoi Market and the pledge to establish two new sub-counties in Nyiro and Wamba.
These initiatives were described as commendable steps toward enhancing connectivity, opening trade routes, and uplifting the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
However, the Turkana community candidly voiced disappointment that Nachola Sub-County, which they have long advocated for, was once again overlooked.
Despite constituting nearly 90 percent of the crowd that welcomed the President in Baragoi, the community remains with only one administrative ward, one MCA in the Samburu County Assembly, and no senior national appointments since independence.
This persistent imbalance, they argued, has entrenched inequality in resource allocation, limited access to government services, and fostered feelings of disenfranchisement.
Nadome emphasized that the Turkana people do not seek favoritism but fairness, equity, and inclusion, warning that the creation of new sub-counties in Nyiro and Wamba while excluding Nachola risks widening divisions between the Turkana and Samburu communities.
The statement further highlighted the plight of Turkana professionals, who have been systematically sidelined in both county and national appointments.
Particular concern was raised over the vacant commissioner position at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), with reports of lobbying to hand it to a Samburu candidate under the pretext of unity.
Nadome noted that since independence, no Turkana professional from Samburu County has ever been appointed to a senior national government position, describing this as a grave injustice that undermines the ideals of inclusivity and equal opportunity.
The community also welcomed the government’s recent decision to remove vetting requirements from the national ID registration process, calling it a commendable reform.
Yet they regretted that Turkana residents remain excluded from mobile registration exercises, which have been rolled out in other areas.
Nadome appealed for the President’s intervention to ensure Turkana inclusion in this critical national exercise, stressing that access to identification is a fundamental right enabling citizens to enjoy government services, participate in national programs, and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
In conclusion, Nadome reiterated the community’s loyalty to the Kenya Kwanza administration while appealing to the President to consider the plight of the Turkana people in Samburu County.
He stressed that the recognition of Nachola as a sub-county, fair representation in administrative units, facilitation of essential services such as ID registration, and equal access to opportunities would go a long way in healing historical injustices and promoting lasting peace, unity, and cohesion in Samburu County.
