Marsabit launches Desert Stars Hub to drive innovation, climate resilience
The initiative is part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide in marginalised areas and foster green entrepreneurship. It is also linked to the national DigiKen initiative, which is supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund Programme.
Marsabit County on Friday launched a bold new chapter in its development journey, breaking ground for the Desert Stars Innovation and Sustainability Hub in Torbi Town, North Horr Constituency - a flagship project expected to transform livelihoods through technology, youth empowerment, and climate-smart solutions.
The groundbreaking ceremony, led by Governor Mohamud Ali and North Horr MP Wario Guyo Adhe, brought together county leaders, development partners, scholars, and youth who hailed the hub as a long-awaited investment in Marsabit's future.
More To Read
- Historic water project launched to end generations of scarcity in Northern Kenya
- Marsabit households get 100 camels in government push to restore livelihoods
- Marsabit medics accuse county of betrayal as salary crisis deepens
- Court dismisses EACC bid to block Sh20.5 million fire engine tender payment
- Father and son killed after grenade exploded at home in Marsabit
- Apple to unveil next-generation devices powered by new M5 chip
"Today we do more than break ground for a building - we are breaking ground for possibilities, for skills, ideas, jobs, and hope," said Governor Mohamed, calling the project a "historic leap for the people of Marsabit."
The Desert Stars Hub will operate on two fronts - a digital innovation centre and a climate-smart agriculture incubator.
The digital wing will equip young people with 21st-century skills such as software development, content creation, and e-governance solutions, while the sustainability arm will promote dryland agriculture, livestock value chains, and water harvesting techniques.
"Together, the two arms form a runway where talent can take off without leaving Marsabit," the Governor said.
Mohamed also underscored the county's deep digital divide, noting that internet access in some areas remains below one per cent.
"That is not just a statistic - it's a wall that stands between our young people and the global marketplace. This hub will be the doorway through which they step into the future," he added.
Strategically located in Turbi along the Marsabit-Moyale highway, the hub will serve as a cross-county resource centre linking North Horr, Moyale, Saku, and Laisamis sub-counties.
"This hub is a peace asset by design. When livelihoods grow across boundaries, the incentive to protect peace grows with them, he said.
Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali joins the county's women in celebrating the launch of the flagship project. (Photo: Issa Hussein)
He painted a vivid picture of the hub's promise: "A daughter learns to code and pays her college fees from a remote job. A son becomes a solar technician. A herder loses fewer animals because early warnings reach his phone. A boda boda rider turns into a logistics entrepreneur. That is the Marsabit we are building."
The Governor pledged to integrate the hub's programs into county departments, including agriculture, ICT, and TVETs, making the county government the "first customer" for solutions developed by young innovators.
MP Wario Guyo hailed the project as a "turning point" for the youth of Marsabit. "Our people must work, and Marsabit must change. Desert Stars will ensure our young people catch up with the rest of the world," he said.
Community members and partners echoed their optimism. "It will create jobs for our young people," said Mama Bokayo, a resident of Turbi.
Ward MCA Ambalo emphasised unity and peace, while technical partner Simon Wachira described the facility as "the largest ICT hub in the region."
Katelo Isako, representing development partners, highlighted the urgency of climate innovation amid worsening droughts. "Drylands must now become centres of learning and adaptation, not just survival," he said.
Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Ouma reassured investors of Marsabit's stability, urging them to take advantage of the emerging opportunities.
Closing the event, Governor Mohamed Ali declared: "For decades, 'Marsabit' has meant distant; distant from opportunity, distant from services. With this Hub, Marsabit will mean first; first to learn, first to adapt, first to lead."
He then officially launched the Desert Stars Innovation and Sustainability Hub, saying, "May it shine so brightly that no child in Marsabit ever feels left in the dark again."
The ceremony was attended by senior county officials, including County Secretary Dr Arero Halkano, Chief of Staff Abdo Alla, and Chief Officers Anna Maria Denge and Guyatu Wakalla, among others.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide in marginalised areas and foster green entrepreneurship. It is also linked to the national DigiKen initiative, which is supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund Programme.
Top Stories Today
