As a leader, I draw great inspiration from Dr. Godana’s life—his commitment to unity, his vision for his people, and his unwavering pursuit of peace.

By Wilson Amondo 
Chief Guest, Your Excellency Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, all distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
My name is Hon. Tura Ruru Elema, Member of County Assembly for North Horr Ward, Marsabit County, and Chair of the Security Committee in the County Assembly of Marsabit.
When North Horr is mentioned, many remember the legacy of the late Hon. Dr. Bonaya Adhi Godana—a distinguished and iconic leader who rose from a humble pastoralist background to achieve immensely and write his name among those remembered long after their departure. He lost his life in a plane crash while championing peace, alongside other great leaders from Marsabit. We are also reminded of the painful tribal conflicts of 2020–2022 that led to the loss of many lives.
As a leader, I draw great inspiration from Dr. Godana’s life—his commitment to unity, his vision for his people, and his unwavering pursuit of peace. His legacy continues to guide my service to the people of North Horr and Marsabit County at large.
It is therefore a great honour for me to receive this award as the Outstanding MCA of the Year in Peace, Security, and Education Development. I sincerely thank the Jamhuri Kenya Leadership Awards for this recognition.
I believe this award comes against the backdrop of those challenges, and the collective efforts we have made to overcome them.
On Peace and Security:
During my first term, North Horr Ward experienced five years of peace without a single gunshot. This was achieved through sustained community dialogue and grassroots peace initiatives.
In my second term, upon being appointed Chair of the Security Committee, my first action was to bring together all leaders across the county. We made a public and united declaration—both physically and on social media—that Marsabit stands for peace.
We went further to establish inclusive community peace committees representing all major communities. These committees played a key role in mobilizing citizens, fostering dialogue, and building trust. As a result, Marsabit County is currently enjoying relative peace.
On Education:
Education has been a key pillar of my leadership.
We increased the number of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres from 9 to 30. Previously, due to our pastoral lifestyle, many families delayed taking their children to school. However, with the introduction of the CBC system, early education became mandatory. This pushed us to ensure that every village has access to ECD, so that no child is left behind.
In addition, we:
Established the only village polytechnic in the ward
Secured the only school bus serving our students
Initiated the Ward Education Performance Initiative (WEPI), a unique program in the county
Through WEPI, we have:
Supplied revision books to all schools
Supported remedial lessons for learners
Provided laboratory reagents to improve science performance
These interventions have significantly improved academic outcomes, and our ward has consistently recorded strong performance in national examinations over the past five years.
Through the same initiative, we also constructed a modern library—one of its kind in the ward—to support learning for all our students.
All these achievements have been made possible through the unwavering support of the people of North Horr, the education fraternity, the County Assembly of Marsabit, the County Government, and the National Government, particularly in matters of security.
Closing Remarks:
As I receive this award, I dedicate it to the resilient people of North Horr Ward and the entire Marsabit County. This recognition is not mine alone—it belongs to every elder, youth, woman, teacher, and leader who has chosen peace over conflict and progress over division.
Inspired by the legacy of leaders like the late Dr. Bonaya Adhi Godana, I remain committed to building a united, peaceful, and educated society where future generations will have greater opportunities.
Let us continue to work together, across all communities, to safeguard peace, invest in education, and build a future where our children can thrive without fear.
I remain committed to serving with integrity, inclusivity, and dedication to the people.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.
Hon. Tura Ruru Elema
Member of County Assembly, North Horr Ward
Chair, Security Committee
County Assembly of Marsabit

Popular posts from this blog

Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa

Image
Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa By Stella Ranji  Nairobi, Kenya – June 30, 2025 — A diverse coalition of global leaders, scientists, faith leaders, and grassroots actors convened in Nairobi today for the opening of the Vatican African Conference on Climate Resilience, a landmark summit aimed at designing a new era of climate adaptation rooted in equity, local knowledge, and science. Hosted at CIFOR-ICRAF, the two-day summit (June 30 – July 1) marks a pivotal step toward shaping a climate-resilient Africa, with an emphasis on decentralising climate policy and financing to reach the continent’s most vulnerable communities. The gathering is co-convened by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS), in collaboration with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and other regional and international partners. At the heart of the conference is a call for urgent, inclusive, a...
Read more

Cricket Kenya Launches CK T20 League to Honour Past Glory and Usher in New Era

Image
Cricket Kenya Launches CK T20 League to Honour Past Glory and Usher in New Era By Stella Ranji  NAIROBI, August 27, 2025  In a bold move to revive the nation's cricketing legacy and propel the sport into a new era, Cricket Kenya (CK) on Wednesday officially launched the CK T20 League, a franchise-based tournament set to begin this November in Nairobi. The league will pay tribute to Kenya’s golden generation of cricketers — the national teams of 1996 to 2003, who famously elevated the country to global prominence, including a historic semi-final appearance in the 2003 ICC World Cup. The new T20 competition aims to not only honour those achievements but also develop the next wave of cricketing talent in Kenya and across the African continent. The initiative comes after the signing of a lucrative partnership between Cricket Kenya and AOS Sport Tournament, a Dubai/India-based sports promotion company. The collaboration is expected to inject professionalism, visibility,...
Read more

KISM Reaffirms Commitment to Digitizing Public Procurement through EGP System Rollout

Image
KISM Reaffirms Commitment to Digitizing Public Procurement through EGP System Rollout By Wilson Amondo  Nairobi  September 3, 2025 The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) has reaffirmed its strategic support for the nationwide rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement System (EGPS), positioning supply chain professionals as a critical pillar in modernizing and professionalizing public procurement in Kenya. As a statutory body established under the Supplies Practitioners Management Act (SPMA) No.17 of 2007, KISM is mandated to register, license, train, discipline, and regulate supply chain professionals across the country. With over 28,000 members, the Institute is playing a leading role in facilitating the end-to-end digital transformation of procurement processes. “The rollout of EGPS is not just a government directive—it is a necessary evolution,” said the Institute in a statement released after the recent Heads of Procurement Forum held from Aug...
Read more