Former Lagdera MP says reopening the border would boost trade, revive livelihoods and strengthen economic ties with neighbouring Somalia.
ASAL POST | GARISSA
By: Abdimalik Hajir – Reporter.
DADAAB, Kenya – Garissa gubernatorial aspirant Mohamed Shidiye has pledged to lobby for the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border, saying the move would revive cross-border trade, create jobs and unlock economic opportunities for communities in the region.
Speaking during a political rally in Dadaab, the former Kenyan Ambassador to Botswana said the improved security situation along the border presents an opportunity for the government to reconsider its closure.
Shidiye, a former Lagdera Member of Parliament, said that if elected Governor of Garissa County, he would engage President William Ruto to push for the reopening of the border, arguing that the security threat posed by Al-Shabaab has significantly reduced.
He said reopening the border would facilitate the free movement of traders and goods between Kenya and Somalia, strengthen long-standing commercial ties and improve livelihoods for thousands of residents who depend on cross-border trade.
The gubernatorial hopeful also pledged to establish the largest livestock market in Dadaab, modelled after the Garissa livestock market, to attract livestock traders from Somalia, Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa.
Shidiye noted that the proposed market would position Dadaab as a regional livestock trading hub, creating employment opportunities and stimulating the local economy.
His remarks come amid growing calls from business leaders and residents for the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border. Many locals argue that while the border remains officially closed, goods continue to enter through informal routes, encouraging smuggling and limiting legitimate trade.
During the rally, Shidiye also urged residents to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election, praising the administration for investing in infrastructure across Northeastern Kenya.
He cited the ongoing construction of the 750-kilometre road corridor linking Garissa to Mandera as one of the region’s most significant development projects, saying it has improved connectivity and opened up economic opportunities.
Shidiye further pledged to lobby the national government for the construction of a tarmac road linking Garissa and Liboi, saying the project could be implemented in phases to improve transport and trade along the border corridor.
Garissa ODM Chairman and Dadaab MP Mohamed Ali Sheikh also addressed the gathering, saying President Ruto deserves a second term due to his administration’s development record in Northeastern Kenya.
Shidiye was accompanied by Dadaab parliamentary aspirant Abdikheir Abdullahi Dubow, Dadaab MCA Mohamed Abdi Farah, and several current and former ward representatives.
