As the 2027 gubernatorial race begins to take shape in Marsabit County, the region’s political arena is already teeming with contenders. Among them are incumbent Woman Representative Naomi Waqo, poised to make history as the first Borana woman to vie for the top county seat; former Governor Ambassador Ukur Yatani eyeing a potential return; Saku MP Dido Rasso; ex-North Horr MP Chachu Ganya; and Rendille candidate Sunya Orre.
Amidst these familiar names, and in a region where patriarchal politics has traditionally held sway, a new kind of leadership is steadily emerging—one defined not by political theatrics, but by pragmatic reform and inclusive governance. At the center of this quiet revolution is Kabale Tache Arero, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Land Commission (NLC), whose influence is increasingly being felt far beyond the confines of her office in Nairobi.
Arero’s absence from the campaign trail hasn’t diminished her political clout, instead it is firmly prompting residents to push for her to run for governor in the upcoming 2027 elections. Her transformative agenda and widening appeal have sparked speculation about her future political ambitions, and as things stand, whether she seeks office or not, her role in redefining leadership in Marsabit is hard to ignore.
At the helm of the NLC, Arero has driven a bold agenda centered on transparency, digital innovation, and grassroots participation. One of her most lauded reforms has been the digitization of the Commission’s compensation framework for compulsory land acquisitions—a process that has historically been mired in bureaucracy and opacity. The new system has expedited payments to project-affected persons (PAPs), enhancing accountability and paving the way for critical infrastructure developments such as the Dongo Kundu Bypass.
Her approach goes beyond policy. In northern Kenya, where land rights often intersect with deep-seated ethnic and political tensions, Arero has positioned the NLC as a more accessible and equitable institution. Under her watch, land administration services have reached historically underserved communities, helping to bridge the development divide.
But Arero’s leadership extends well past institutional reform. A vocal proponent of gender equity, she recently headlined the Northern Kenya Women Professional Leadership Forum, where she called for deliberate strategies to dismantle entrenched socio-economic barriers faced by women in the region. Her advocacy signals a broader push for inclusive governance in areas long sidelined from national conversations.
People focused…
Her reputation as a unifier was on full display during a symbolic moment of political reconciliation in Marsabit—an event she helped broker among longstanding political rivals. The rare convergence of leaders across ethnic and ideological lines during her son’s wedding underscored her unique position as a bridge-builder in a county often marked by division and conflict.
“She belongs to the people. She’s not boxed in by tribe or party,”
noted Marsabit elder Mr. Galgalo, encapsulating the growing public sentiment around her leadership.
Indeed, her brand of leadership—marked by competence, integrity, and a clear focus on public service—continues to reshape expectations of what governance can look like in northern Kenya.
“Leadership is about service, and service is about bringing people together,”
Arero has often said. Whether or not she throws her hat into the ring, her influence is already remapping the contours of Marsabit’s political future—one reform at a time, reforms that have the potential to catapult her to the helm of the County’s highest office.
