By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
July 13, 2026 - Garissa County gubernatorial aspirant Mohamed Shidiye has pledged to champion the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border, saying the move would revive cross-border trade.
Speaking during a political rally, the former Botswana Ambassador said the move will create economic opportunities and strengthen long-standing commercial ties between communities on both sides of the frontier.
The former Lagdera Member of Parliament said if elected he will talk to the President to have the border reopened, since insecurity brought about by the Al-Shabaab menace has gone down.
Shidiye also pledged to build the largest livestock market in Dadaab, similar to Garissa town, with livestock coming all the way from Somalia and Ethiopia.
He said reopening the border would boost livelihoods by facilitating the movement of goods and traders between the two neighbouring countries.
There have been growing calls to have the Kenya–Somalia border reopened, with locals arguing that the border is only closed on paper but goods are freely smuggled, which has created unnecessary tensions.
At the same time, Shidiye called for support for President William Ruto's re-election, saying he has heavily invested in Northeastern Kenya and deserved to serve another term.
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The former lawmaker said President Ruto's administration is the only government that has invested in the single largest road network of 750 km from Garissa that goes all the way to Mandera.
He told locals that he will talk to the President and lobby for a tarmac road from Garissa to Liboi, saying the road can be constructed in three phases.
"President Ruto has brought back to the government, he has developed the region, we will never abandon him, we will ensure he is going to win the next election," he said.
Garissa County ODM chairman who is also Dadaab MP Mohamed Ali Sheikh also noted that President William Ruto deserves a second term as a result of his work for the region.
Shidiye was accompanied by Dadaab parliamentary aspirant Abdikheir Abdullahi Dubow, Dadaab MCA Mohamed Abdi Farah and several other sitting and former ward representatives.