NAIROBI (KAAB TV) – Kenya’s Mandera County Governor, Mohamed Adan Khalif, has revealed that 60 percent of his county is currently under the control of Al-Shabaab militant group as terror attacks rose in the region.
This situation has escalated terror attacks in the border region, which shares proximity with Somalia.
The governor expressed concern over how the presence of these militants has severely impacted service delivery in various parts of the county.
Speaking during a crucial security meeting aimed at addressing the Al-Shabaab insurgency in the North Eastern region, regional commissioners, and county intelligence committee members from four counties neighboring Somalia, namely Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu, gathered to find ways of dealing with the increasing threats posed by the terrorist group.
“Mandera County, for example, 60 per cent is controlled by Al-Shabaab. We cannot offer services and are only confined at the County Headquarters,” he said as quoted by local media.
Governor Khalif, along with other leaders from the affected areas, emphasized the need for concerted efforts to counter Al-Shabaab’s activities. They urged for community sensitization to identify and eliminate elements that support the terror outfit, recognizing the vital role the local community plays in curbing cross-border attacks.
“The attacks in our counties are not only a threat to security personnel. This is affecting the people as well, we leaders included,” added Lamu East MP, Ruweida Mohamed.
Governor Khalif expressed the significant challenges his administration faces in providing public services due to the pervasive Al-Shabaab presence in the county. He highlighted that 60 percent of Mandera County falls under their control, restricting their ability to function effectively beyond the County Headquarters.
In the backdrop of heightened Al-Shabaab activity, including attacks on telecommunication masts and roads used by security personnel, the leaders sought support from the national government to combat the group.
They stressed the importance of close coordination between regional and national authorities to effectively fight Al-Shabaab and terrorism in the area.
North Eastern Regional Commissioner, John Otieno, emphasized the need for community engagement as a crucial aspect of ending cross-border attacks by Al-Shabaab.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the long and porous border shared with Somalia, a region that has been plagued by instability for an extended period.
Over the past months, Al-Shabaab has escalated its attacks on Kenyan border towns, resulting in the loss of civilian lives and the deaths of several police officers since May.
The group’s attacks have historically targeted Kenyan cities and towns as part of their efforts to pressure Kenya to withdraw its troops from the African Union-led peacekeeping forces in Somalia.