Kenya Insights

Tag: Isiolo

  • President Ruto Forced To Cut Short Isiolo Visit After ‘Ruto Must Go Chants’ By Residents

    President Ruto Forced To Cut Short Isiolo Visit After ‘Ruto Must Go Chants’ By Residents

    On Thursday, February 6, 2025, President William Ruto’s visit to Isiolo County was abruptly cut short due to persistent heckling from residents during the groundbreaking ceremony for the County Aggregation and Industrial Park project.

    The tension escalated when attendees began chanting “Ruto must go” following an address by Isiolo MP Bonaya Mumina Gollo. 

    In an attempt to calm the situation, Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo urged the crowd to respect the president, stating, “Today is the President’s day; let’s give him respect. Let’s listen to all leaders. Those who are used to organizing heckling, you will not return to heckling in Isiolo. Do we understand each other?” 

    The unrest intensified when Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo attempted to address the gathering but was met with heckles, preventing her from speaking. She pleaded with the crowd, saying, “Let us not throw stones.” 

    In response to the hostile reception, President Ruto accused drug traffickers of orchestrating the protests as retaliation against his administration’s crackdown on narcotics in the region.

    He asserted, “We’ve been having problems in Isiolo and Marsabit with people from other countries bringing drugs here and selling them to our children. Let me be clear – we will deport these drug dealers.” He further warned, “I hear these drug dealers have brought youth to heckle us here. Listen carefully, young people – you cannot intimidate the Kenyan government.” 

    Despite the disruptions, President Ruto remained resolute, vowing to continue with development projects in the region. He stated firmly, “Take your threats elsewhere. I will build Isiolo.”

    However, as he attempted to introduce his allies, the crowd’s dissatisfaction grew, with residents waving their hands and continuing their chants.

    Ultimately, the president was compelled to end his speech prematurely, remarking, “You have fierce competition here,” before departing the event. 

    This incident in Isiolo reflects ongoing tensions and public sentiment against Ruto’s policies or administration, as evidenced by similar anti-government sentiments expressed in various parts of the country through social media posts and local protests. The “Ruto must go” chants have been a recurring theme in several regions, highlighting significant public unrest and dissatisfaction with the current government’s actions or perceived failures.

  • Isiolo Court Rules Against NRT Conservancies in Landmark Carbon Credits Case

    Isiolo Court Rules Against NRT Conservancies in Landmark Carbon Credits Case

    A court in Isiolo on Monday declared the Northern Rangelands Trust’s (NRT) “Community Conservancies” illegal, ruling that their operations violated constitutional rights and exploited local communities under the guise of conservation.

    The judgment found that NRT’s activities restricted access to grazing land and water points, depriving communities in Chari Ward, Cherab Ward, and Merti Sub-County of vital resources for their pastoral livelihoods.

    The court cited Articles 40 and 63 of the Constitution, affirming that the affected land belongs to the community and cannot be managed without their consent. The ruling comes weeks after a recent Deutsche Welle documentary that exposed NRT’s controversial carbon offsetting project. The project has been criticized for failing to provide any meaningful benefits to the communities while undermining their land rights and way of life.

    The documentary claims that there is no credible evidence of the project’s positive environmental impact, calling it “blood carbon.” Activists have been campaigning against NRT, alleging that the organization limits grazing areas for pastoralists and employs rangers accused of human rights violations.

    Some reports suggest that locals have been forced off their lands, attacked and even killed in the name of conservation.

    Despite these allegations, NRT continues to secure funding from major international donors like the European Commission, AFD France, and USAID. It also sells carbon credits to corporations such as Meta and Netflix, allowing them to greenwash their public image.

    Critics argue that the model enriches conservation organizations while marginalizing Indigenous communities and compromising their livelihoods. The Isiolo court maintained that NRT’s operations ignored constitutional and statutory land ownership laws while failing to recognize the cultural and economic significance of the land to local residents.

    It directed NRT to comply with community land ownership rights, granting them 14 days to appeal the decision. Community members have welcomed the ruling as a historic step toward protecting their ancestral lands and livelihoods.