President William Ruto’s much anticipated tour to the Northeastern region on Tuesday 4th February kicked off in Mandera county uninterrupted despite the reports made on a few cases of insecurity elements.
On Monday 3rd, five chiefs from Mandera County were reportedly abducted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants while on official duties to organize for the head of state’s visit to their region. The chiefs were enroute their vehicle before they were intercepted near Iresuki village, which is about 23 kilometers north of Elwak Police station. The militants, whose number is estimated to be about forty, blindfolded the chiefs and drove away in their vehicle to the border of Somalia according to the information which has since spread fears across the region.
This incident occurred just hours before President William Ruto’s scheduled tour of the region which is expected to last for a full week in areas including Garissa, Isiolo and Mandera Counties. With the abduction indicating the persistent security challenges in the area, which has experienced similar incidents in the past, The president is expected to address the rising insecurity in the region which comes in the wake of the abduction of five chiefs by suspected al-Shabaab militants who entered Kenya through the porous Somalia border.
Northeastern is also expected to receive development and financial goodies during the Kenya Kwanza government’s visit.
