Hope Returns to Yamicha: Residents Call for Schools, Hospital, and Security Post
Hope Returns to Yamicha: Residents Call for Schools, Hospital, and Security Post
For years, Yamicha, a remote settlement at the intersection of Isiolo North, Marsabit, and Wajir West counties, was a ghost town. The once-thriving pastoralist community had fled due to insecurity, leaving behind abandoned homes and a lifeless landscape.
However, a beacon of hope has emerged as residents slowly return, driven by improved telecommunications and access to water projects which have been made possible by intervention from Governor Guyo and women rep Munina Bonaya.
The recent installation of a telecommunication mast and the sinking of a borehole have ignited a revival in Yamicha. Over the past six months, more than one hundred households have resettled in the area, drawn by the promise of connectivity and essential resources.
Community members applaud local leaders for their efforts in restoring basic infrastructure, but they say more needs to be done to make the settlement habitable.
During a recent food relief distribution by officials from the office of local women representative Mumina Bonaya, residents made a passionate plea to the government: reopen the local school, establish a hospital, and set up a police post to ensure their safety.
Yusuf Gillo, a resident, expressed concern over the fate of the village’s children. “We already have over fifty learners who are missing school because there are no teachers and no infrastructure. The school was abandoned when teachers withdrew due to insecurity,” he lamented.
Women and children remain the most vulnerable, especially when the men leave to graze their livestock. Gillo urged authorities to swiftly deploy teachers, fearing that prolonged absence from school could lead to high dropout rates.
Hussein Adan, another resident, stressed that reopening the school should be the government’s top priority. “For five months, these children have been without education. It’s heartbreaking to see their potential wasted,” he said.
Security concerns also remain, despite the newfound hope. Golo Salesa noted that the lack of a communication network was a major factor in past insecurity. However, with the recent installation of the network mast, residents now feel safer. “Before, we had no way to call for help in an emergency. Now, we can contact neighbors and authorities if trouble arises,” he explained.
The residents of Yamicha see the return of government services as the final step in their journey home. With restored education, healthcare, and security, they believe their settlement can once again thrive. Now, they eagerly await action from county and national leaders to turn their hopes into reality.
