President William Ruto addressed the nation from Mandera County, responding to the recent abduction of five chiefs by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
The chiefs were en route to a meeting in Elwak Town when their vehicle was hijacked in the Iresuki area.
President Ruto assured the public that security agencies, led by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), are actively pursuing the perpetrators to ensure the safe return of the abducted officials.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment to national security, President Ruto declared that Kenya will not surrender any part of its territory to criminals.
He stated, “We are not going to cede an inch of our country to criminals…we will go after them, deal with them and eliminate them.”
The President also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen security in the North Eastern region, aiming to restore peace and stability for residents.
In addition to addressing security concerns, President Ruto announced several development initiatives for Mandera County.
These include the construction of a 740-kilometer Isiolo-Mandera road, an allocation of Ksh.1.8 billion for six markets, and Ksh.2.6 billion for electrification projects.
The county is also set to be connected to the national power grid through Ethiopia, aiming to boost economic growth and improve the quality of life for residents.
