Mandera has been thrown into uncertainty after reports that armed Jubaland forces from Somalia crossed into Kenyan territory, sparking fears of violence, displacement, and a breach of national sovereignty.
Residents have expressed alarm over the situation, with local leaders, national politicians, and security officials offering conflicting accounts of what is happening on the ground.
Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, urged patience, saying security agencies were still assessing the situation.
“We cannot confirm now whether they were forces of war, who they are, it’s only until you do proper security analysis and investigations that you get to know is it forces, is it civilians and so forth,” Murkomen said.
He dismissed claims that schools were occupied, but acknowledged that some citizens may have fled across the Somalia-Kenya border.
“If there are spillovers of citizens from neighboring countries, Somalia particularly, the security team will work on it to make sure that they return peacefully. Our main problem at the border is criminals who want to attack our country, kill people, and steal property.”
Mandera Senator Ali Roba painted a much grimmer picture, warning of a looming disaster.
“Jubaland forces are now inside Mandera town. Schools have been shut down, businesses paralyzed, and families displaced in fear of stray bullets, RPGs and unexploded ordnance,” he said.
Calling the situation “a humiliation of our sovereignty,” Roba criticized the government for allowing foreign troops on Kenyan soil.
“Allowing Jubaland troops to operate in Mandera, putting Kenyan lives and property at mortal risk, is shameful, reckless, and a betrayal of our people… If the government fails to act immediately and decisively, we will be forced to mobilize ourselves to defend our people.”
Former Chief Justice David Maraga raised constitutional concerns, saying Kenya’s sovereignty was at stake.
“As a sovereign state, Kenya’s borders are impenetrable. Their protection over territorial integrity is a fundamental duty imposed on the president and all state organs by our constitution,” Maraga said.
He called on President William Ruto and Parliament to clarify under what legal framework Jubaland troops entered Kenya.
“This serious violation of our sovereignty sets a dangerous precedent that could embolden external actors to interfere with our internal security and weaken citizens’ confidence in the state’s ability to guarantee safety.”
Meanwhile, Nelson Koech, chair of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, urged restraint until official investigations are completed.
“It would be prejudicial and premature for me as a chairman to issue any statement in regards to what is happening. We will await to hear from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their investigations to ascertain the truth,” Koech said, warning against politicizing “delicate security issues.”
This comes amidst Education officials insisting that Mandera Classrooms are Safe as Clashes Rage Across Border
