Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday called for closer cooperation between religious leaders, political actors, and families to address peace, development, and social challenges in Isiolo County.
He was speaking at the opening of the annual Waso Ulamaa League religious Da’awa conference held at Aya Village in Isiolo.
The three-day conference has drawn Islamic scholars from Kenya and the wider region, underscoring the continued role of faith-based forums in community engagement and social guidance.
According to Duale, faith institutions remain critical partners in promoting harmony and moral leadership, particularly in regions facing complex social and economic pressures.
Addressing participants, the CS urged leaders in Isiolo to move beyond divisions and work collectively for the benefit of residents.
He said cooperation among leaders was necessary to sustain peace and support development initiatives in the county, which sits at the centre of northern Kenya’s trade and security networks.
Duale also highlighted concerns over drug and substance abuse, calling on parents to take a more active role in guiding their children.
He emphasized that addressing the problem requires coordinated efforts involving families, religious institutions, and other stakeholders, rather than isolated interventions.
The conference is being held under the theme, Unity, Peace and Development through Faith and Cooperation.
Over the next two days, attendees are expected to participate in lectures and discussions led by invited scholars, including Sheikh Noordin Kishki from Tanzania, Sheikh Abu Hamza from Mombasa, and Sheikh Jamaludin Osman from Nairobi.
Organisers say the forum is designed to strengthen religious education while addressing broader social issues affecting communities in northern Kenya.
Established in 2008, the Waso Ulamaa League operates across Isiolo, Marsabit, and Moyale, focusing on Islamic education, moral values, and social cohesion.
The event was hosted by Waso Ulamaa League Chairman Sheikh Abdulaziz Yussuf and attended by several leaders, among them Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohammed Liban.
The conference continues through the weekend, with sessions focusing on faith, social responsibility, and cooperation among communities.