Garissa County Assembly speaker Abdi Idle speaking at the event.
Garissa Assembly speaker Abdi Idle shows Garissa Governor
Nathif Jama the new Assembly chambers.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Speaker Abdi Idle, MCAs and Assembly staff pose for a group photo in front of the newly commissioned County Assembly offices.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has officially inaugurated the newly constructed Garissa County Assembly complex.
The modern facility is set to enhance legislative operations and improve service delivery in the county.
The state-of-the-art building features a spacious debating Chamber, a public gallery, well-equipped boardrooms, and dedicated offices for the assembly’s leadership, committees, and secretariat staff.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Jama hailed the project as a lasting investment in the county’s governance infrastructure.
“This is a permanent project that will serve the people of Garissa for generations to come,” he said.
“I urge our MCAs to put it to good use in advancing their legislative duties.”
Jama praised the collaborative spirit between his administration and the County Assembly over the past three years, saying it had led to stronger governance and improved services for residents.
The new facility replaces the previous Assembly premises that were gutted by fire in January 2021.
The blaze, which spread rapidly, destroyed the Chambers and adjacent offices despite firefighting efforts.
Governor Jama commended the assembly leadership and engineers for completing the project on schedule, calling it a symbol of progress.
“This building will outlive us all. It is a valuable asset and a pillar of democratic growth in Garissa,” he said.
County Assembly Speaker Abdi Idle described the occasion as a turning point for the Assembly, recalling the hardships they endured after the fire.
“For months, we operated from a cramped room under conditions that did not reflect the stature of a constitutional institution,” he said.
“The surroundings had become chaotic, with kiosks and market stalls encroaching on the Assembly compound—posing both a security risk and undermining our dignity.”
Idle said the new building restores not only the Assembly’s operational capacity but also its institutional integrity.
He thanked Governor Jama for his support and urged continued collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government.
“We must embrace the constitutional separation of powers as a foundation for accountability and cooperation, not conflict,” he said.
“Let Garissa be an example of constructive engagement between the two arms of government.”
Majority Leader and Dadaab MCA Mohamed Abdi Farah, now serving his third term, said the new complex marks a new era.
“This building is more than bricks and mortar. It is a powerful symbol of our resilience—from the ashes of 2021 to the dignity of 2025,” he said.
Minority Leader and Garissa Township MCA Hussein Mohamed echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the building’s role in fostering public trust.
“This facility assures citizens that their concerns are being addressed in a professional, credible environment,” he said.
Also present at the ceremony were County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo, Garissa High Court Judge John Onyiego, officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the County Public Service Board, and hundreds of residents who turned out to witness the historic event.
