Kenyan authorities have turned to traditional conflict resolution methods by sending elders to negotiate the release of five chiefs abducted near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera. The chiefs were kidnapped on Monday while traveling to Elwak for official duties, sparking fears of increased insecurity in the region.
Officials believe the abductees were taken into Somalia by unknown individuals, with suspicions pointing to the al-Shabaab militant group, which has been responsible for similar attacks in the past. To secure their release, local elders have been identified and tasked with engaging their Somali counterparts in negotiations, a strategy that has proven effective in previous incidents.
“Unless they are killed, which may not happen, we have to send elders to negotiate for their release,” said a security official familiar with the plan.
The abduction comes just days before President William Ruto’s planned visit to the northern region. Despite the security threat, officials confirmed that the tour would proceed as scheduled, with operations in place to prevent further attacks. Ruto is set to visit Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, and Wajir, where he will hold a cabinet meeting and assess development projects.
Following the abduction, security forces launched an operation to track the perpetrators. However, efforts were briefly hampered after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under a security vehicle. Despite this setback, operations continue in a region that has frequently been targeted by cross-border militants.
Mandera and other border counties, including Wajir, Lamu, and Garissa, have long suffered from attacks linked to Somalia-based militants. These incursions have primarily targeted government officials and non-locals, hampering economic and infrastructural development.
Last December, a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer was ambushed and killed in Lafey, Mandera, in a suspected al-Shabaab attack. The gunmen stole his vehicle and later abandoned his body. Such incidents highlight the persistent security challenges facing Kenya’s northeastern counties.
The Kenyan government has ramped up its counterterrorism efforts, deploying a multi-agency security team to flush out militants along the border. While these operations have prevented several planned attacks, the continued incursions underscore the difficulties of securing the porous border.
Officials remain hopeful that the elders’ intervention will lead to the safe return of the abducted chiefs. Meanwhile, security forces remain on high alert to prevent further attacks, especially with the president’s visit on the horizon.
