Kenya Deploys Somali Elders to Negotiate Release of Abducted Chiefs in Mandera

The Kenyan government is sending Somali elders to Somalia in a bid to negotiate the safe release of five local administrators abducted by Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera County.

The five officials, including four Chiefs and an Assistant Chief, were taken by the militants on Monday morning along the Elwak-Wargadud-Mandera road. Officials have identified the abducted as Hassan Kulmia (Chief, Wargadud East), Mohamed Hache (Chief, Chachabole), Adaw Mohamed (Chief, Wargadud Town), Abdi Suraw (Chief, Quramathow), and Ibrahim Gabow (Assistant Chief, Wargadud East Sub-Location).

According to security sources, engaging community elders in the negotiations is seen as the safest approach to securing their release, as previous negotiations with Al-Shabaab have followed a similar pattern. A joint security operation, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has also been launched.

“Unless they are killed, which may not happen, we have to send elders to negotiate with their counterparts in Somalia for the release of the administrators,” said an official.

Rising Insecurity in Northern Kenya

The abduction is the latest in a series of attacks linked to Al-Shabaab, a militant group operating along the Kenya-Somalia border. Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties have been the most affected by cross-border incursions, with security officers and government officials frequently targeted.

Last December, Al-Shabaab militants ambushed and killed a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer in Lafey, Mandera, before hijacking a vehicle to escape. A passenger, Muhumed Bashir, was abducted but later found injured in the bushes. In a separate case from the same month, two police officers who went missing in 2016 were officially presumed dead after years of uncertainty about their fate.

President Ruto’s Visit

The latest attack came only a day before President William Ruto’s visit to northern Kenya this week. Ruto started his tour in the region on Tuesday with Mandera.

Ruto vowed to bring back the chiefs back home alive and instructed security officers to ensure their safe return in the fastest possible way.

He will be proceeding to Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Marsabit counties and will hold a Cabinet meeting in Garissa. His visit follows a series of security concerns in the region, with local leaders urging the government to enhance security measures along the border.