Five Kenyan chiefs who were kidnapped in February by suspected Al-Shabaab militants while heading to a security meeting have finally been released after spending two months in captivity.
The meeting was meant to prepare for President William Ruto’s planned tour of Mandera County.
The chiefs were freed on Sunday evening and dropped off by unidentified individuals. Local officials confirmed that their release came after a series of successful negotiations between regional elders and the militants, who are believed to have held them in Somalia.
The chiefs had been abducted while travelling from Wargadud to Elwak Town. They came from the administrative regions of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole.
Their vehicle was ambushed and hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South, close to the Kenya-Somalia border.
Since their abduction, the government has been working closely with community elders to secure their release.
The kidnapping raised serious concerns over national security due to the sensitive nature of their mission and the ease with which the attackers crossed the border.
President Ruto, during his visit to Mandera on February 4, strongly condemned the incident and directed national security agencies to do everything possible to locate and rescue the chiefs.
Speaking at Moi Stadium, Ruto expressed his firm stance against terrorism and emphasized that those responsible would be dealt with harshly.
“The government will not tolerate acts of terrorism. That’s why I came here with Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli. We will not rest until this matter is resolved,” Ruto stated during his address.
He pointed out that the abduction of the chiefs was a deliberate move by the militants, targeting officials who had been involved in security coordination efforts aimed at suppressing their operations in the region.
Meanwhile, Kenya remains on high alert as Al-Shabaab militants have intensified their activities in Somalia and along the border regions.
Just a day before the chiefs were released, suspected Al-Shabaab members attacked a GSU camp in the Basuba area of Boni Forest. They launched two rocket-propelled grenades during the raid.
In retaliation, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), in collaboration with General Service Unit (GSU) officers, began a joint operation to track down the attackers.
The security agencies have continued their efforts to protect the region and prevent further threats from the terror group.
Kenya has been a frequent target of Al-Shabaab, a group that is designated as a terrorist organization by the Kenyan government and several international bodies.
The country continues to strengthen its border security and work closely with local communities to address such threats.
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