MANDERA, Kenya — The government will honour five Mandera chiefs who were abducted by suspected Al Shabaab militants earlier this year for their bravery and continued service to their communities after their release.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the chiefs, who were kidnapped in February and held for two months before regaining freedom, had demonstrated resilience by returning to their posts despite the ordeal.
“The fact that they chose to go back and continue serving their people is a testament to their courage and commitment to this country,” Murkomen said in Elwak on Monday during the Jukwaa la Usalama security tour of Mandera County.
JUKWAA LA USALAMA, MANDERA COUNTY (DAY II) We have arrived in El Wak for our second day of Jukwaa la Usalama tour of Mandera County. Due to the vastness of the area and logistical challenges, we split our tour of Mandera County into two. Yesterday in Mandera town, we
The CS also announced that chiefs and assistant chiefs in high-risk regions will soon be issued firearms to bolster their security against militant attacks, clan rivalries, and banditry.
“Because of the challenges faced in areas such as Mandera, chiefs and assistant chiefs will be armed for their safety,” Murkomen said, noting that not all administrators will qualify. “We will assess the threat levels and ensure they are properly trained before they are issued with firearms.”
The abduction of the five chiefs highlighted the risks faced by local administrators in the border counties, where Al Shabab militants have carried out repeated cross-border raids and kidnappings.
Murkomen assured residents that the government is working to strengthen security in the region, stressing that administrators remain a critical link between the state and local communities.
JUKWAA LA USALAMA, MANDERA COUNTY (DAY II) As part of our Jukwaa la Usalama tour of Mandera County, I assessed the civil and ID registration exercises at the Mandera Central DCC’s office. The county has ID registration units in all 12 sub-counties. Due to the vastness of the
