By Ali Edin 
For over a decade, the land dispute between Burat residents and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has remained unresolved, disrupting the daily lives of affected families. Despite numerous petitions and statements presented on the Senate floor by Senator Fatuma Dullo, no tangible solution has been reached. The situation remains dire, with KDF’s continued encroachment on the disputed land fueling further tension.
Senator Dullo has positioned herself as a champion for Burat residents, yet many view her efforts as futile, or worse, a calculated bid to garner sympathy during election cycles. Lengthy court battles have exhausted petitioners, who feel the Senator has repeatedly failed to leverage her influence to resolve the crisis.
During her last term, Senator Dullo served as Majority Leader and was a close confidante of the President. What baffles many is why she never used her proximity to power to address the issue. Despite her access to the Commander-in-Chief, she never escalated the matter to the highest office. Instead, critics argue she exploited the residents’ plight for political gain, organizing visits from the Senate Security Committee that yielded little more than allowances for members and campaign rhetoric. No substantive solutions emerged from these efforts.
In 2022, Governor Guyo took office and immediately prioritized resolving the Burat land dispute. Within his first year, he engaged then-Defense CS Hon. Aden Duale in closed-door talks before touring the contested area. Duale later convened a meeting at Defense Headquarters with elected leaders and Burat petitioners, pledging to end the standoff. Governor Guyo, however, stood firm that any resolution must prioritize the affected residents’ interests. The CS urged leaders to depoliticize the issue and seek swift closure.
These efforts bore fruit when, on October 14, 2024, the Isiolo Environment and Land Court referred the petition against KDF’s occupation to the National Land Commission (NLC). Governor Guyo then met with NLC officials, including Vice-Chair Gertrude and Commissioner Tiyah Galgalo, pressing for expedited action.
During a subsequent visit by Defense CS Soipan Tuya, the Governor reiterated the urgency of resolving the crisis and called for community patience to allow dialogue to proceed. Governor Guyo has remained actively engaged, even holding one-on-one discussions with the President. His proactive approach demonstrates a clear commitment to ending the dispute, ensuring the residents’ grievances remain at the forefront.
For the people of Burat, this is not just about land, it’s about justice, dignity, and the right to live without fear. While political games drag on, families remain trapped in uncertainty, their lives held hostage by a dispute that has gone on for far too long. Governor Guyo’s hands-on approach offers a glimmer of hope, proving that real leadership means standing with the people, not just speaking for them. But promises and meetings alone won’t end this crisis. What Burat needs now is action, swift, decisive, and fair. The time for empty rhetoric is over. The time for resolution is now.
Because behind every court filing, every petition, and every political statement, there are real people, waiting, hoping, and demanding the justice they deserve. Their voices must not be ignored any longer.
Lakicha