town, while Lewa Downs reserve is located south of Isiolo. The Meru National Park lies in the North East of the town. Since 1995, the town has been the seat of the Vicariate Apostolic of Isiolo. On July 14, 2005, Bishop Luigi Locati, who represented the Roman Catholic Church in Isiolo, was murdered. The High Court sent Father Guyo Waqo Malley and four others — Mohamed Molu, Aden Ibrahim Mohammed, Mahati Ali Halake and Roba Balla Bariche — to the gallows for planning and murdering Bishop Luigi Locati. The town of Isiolo is small but cosmopolitan. With a scenic beauty of hills surrounding the town and including an eclectic mix of peoples and cultures, Isiolo is home to the Niger–Congo and Nilo-Saharan-speaking Ameru, Samburu and Turkana, as well as the Cushitic-speaking Rendille, Somali and Boran people. The Somali residents, who first settled in the area as soldiers after World War I, are mostly business people who engage in livestock farming. Additionally, there are some Indian shopkeepers. The town is majority Muslim and has several mosques. The Jamia mosque is the largest of all and also a remarkable landmark. The Catholic church's twin bell towers are also among the remarkable landmarks of Isiolo town. Generally the town has hot climate and has avenues of trees within the town to provide shade. During June–August period the town experiences strong dry winds and is generally very dusty. Daisy Waugh's book A Small Town in Africa (1994) is about six months Waugh spent living in Isiolo. American actress Drew Barrymore opened The Barrymore Learning Academy, a school in Isiolo, in 2004. Notable people Grace Lolim is a human rights and peace activist, the chair of the Isiolo Peace Committee. Transport Isiolo is on the paved A2 highway from Nairobi to the Ethiopian border. The town is served by Isiolo Airport, which has been upgraded to an international airport to serve tourism and local exports. Capital Change George Wajackoyah in his manifesto mentioned that he would change the national capital of Kenya to Isiolo. See also Isiolo massacre References External links Isiolo travel guide Isiolo, Kenya Populated places in Isiolo County County capitals in Kenya