Tension gripped Isiolo town on Thursday evening after Mzee Idle Hassan, the Secretary General of the Somali Council of Elders, was shot multiple times by unknown assailants near Jamia Mosque.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack occurred at around 8:00 p.m., shortly after Mzee Idle had attended evening prayers. The respected elder was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where medical officials confirmed he is undergoing treatment and remains under close monitoring.
While the motive for the shooting has not been officially established, Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo linked the incident to Mzee Idle’s outspoken opposition to a recently failed impeachment motion. In a statement, Governor Guyo condemned the attack as a “brazen and cowardly act” and suggested it may have been politically motivated.
“This appears to be connected to his firm stance against the recently failed impeachment process,” the governor stated. “There is growing concern over the presence of suspected OLF [Oromo Liberation Front] operatives in Isiolo, whose intentions may be to instill fear and disrupt the peace our communities have preserved for more than two decades.”
Governor Guyo urged national security agencies to act swiftly, investigate the shooting, and apprehend the perpetrators. He also called for reassurances to the public regarding their safety. “I urge our security agencies to move swiftly and decisively to investigate this heinous crime, bring the perpetrators to justice, and reassure the people of Isiolo of their safety and protection,” he added.
The attack has heightened fears among Isiolo residents, particularly community leaders, some of whom have expressed concerns over rising political tensions in the county.
Mzee Idle is widely respected for his peacebuilding efforts in Isiolo and across northern Kenya. As Secretary General of the Somali Council of Elders, he has played a central role in community dialogue and dispute resolution, often mediating between rival factions to maintain harmony in the region.
Authorities have yet to make arrests in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, residents and leaders alike are calling for calm, urging the community to stand united against acts of violence that threaten the area’s long-standing peace.
