Their primary task was to collect salt tax from caravans, which amounted to ten or eleven Maria Theresa Thalers per month before the Second Italian-Abyssinian War.

[3] Following the savage suppression of their revolt in 1960, numerous members of the Gedeo people were forcibly evicted from their homes, and over the following years some migrated to Shakiso to settle.

The main street featured shops "selling Western contraband—Walkmans and televisions, Swiss Army knives, Russian vodka, lacy underwear, Marlboro cigarettes and CDs."

[5] Land clashes in June 2006 between the rival Guji and Borena Oromo clans left about 100 people dead in and around the towns of Shakiso, Arero and Yabelo.

[6] By March, 2009, drinkable water projects with a budget of 38 million Birr were underway at Shakiso and Adola Wayou, which were expected to benefit 72,000 residents.