Senator Ali Roba Urges Ruto Govt to Shield Mandera from Somalia’s Unending Wars: “At All Costs”
- Mandera senator Ali Roba has warned that insecurity in the county is worsening due to armed conflict spilling over from neighbouring Somalia
- He said residents live in constant fear as stray bullets, rockets and explosives from across the border hit homes and businesses
- The senator called for urgent government intervention to protect citizens and safeguard Kenya’s sovereignty from further cross-border violations
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
In recent weeks, the streets of Mandera have grown quieter for all the wrong reasons.
Source: Getty Images
Shops close early, children stay indoors, and residents live in constant fear of the next stray bullet or explosion from across the Somalia border.
Senator Ali Roba sharply criticised President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of failing to shield Mandera residents from the dangers spilling over from Somalia’s long-running conflicts.
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Is Somalia at war with Jubaland?
He said the county has endured repeated cross-border attacks as fighting between Somalia’s federal forces and Jubaland fighters intensifies.
“Enough. Mandera Town is under constant threat from Somalia’s endless wars. Stray bullets, rockets and live ordnance are hitting Kenyan soil, endangering lives and destroying property,” he said.
Roba warned that these were not isolated incidents but the direct result of the region’s instability, especially in recent weeks.
The senator painted a grim picture of daily life in Mandera, where families live in fear, children can not play outside, and entire neighbourhoods brace for the next outbreak of violence.
Kenyan government urged to protect Mandera residents
Businesses, he noted, are forced to shut down early to avoid the danger.
He urged the Kenyan government to act decisively, saying Somalia’s federal authorities and the Jubaland administration need to be told that their conflicts are crossing into Kenya and infringing on its sovereignty.
"Kenya’s duty is clear, protect lives & property in Mandera at all costs. Silence is not an option. Action is overdue. Our Government must immediately warn Mogadishu and Jubaland state that this is unacceptable. Our people's lives must be protected by our government and urgent action is required," Roba said
Source: Facebook
Are al-Shabaab attacks on the rise?
In a related development, nine police officers from the Border Patrol Unit were injured in Garissa county after their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the Kiwanja-Yumbis area of Fafi sub-county.
The blast, believed to have been planted by al-Shabaab militants, occurred about 10 kilometres from Yumbis town.
The injured officers were taken to the International Rescue Committee Hospital in Hagadera refugee camp for treatment.
Images from the site showed the police vehicle overturned and in flames, highlighting the force of the explosion. Authorities linked the attack to ongoing militant activity along the Kenya-Somalia border.
This incident came only weeks after similar IED explosions in Lamu and Mandera counties. In Lamu, three Kenya Defence Forces soldiers were killed and seven injured.
In Mandera, seven police officers sustained injuries after their patrol vehicle struck an explosive device.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
