Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has called on President William Ruto to explain the alleged presence of Jubaland armed forces inside Kenyan territory in Mandera County.
Speaking in Tseikuru, Kalonzo claimed that the foreign forces have occupied a primary school in Mandera, disrupting education and causing panic among residents.
“The army from Somalia is in Mandera. They are telling us not to be afraid and that they have spoken to our leaders. But this is unacceptable. The President must act and restore order in Mandera,” Kalonzo stated.
The alleged deployment has triggered fears of insecurity in the border region, with some local leaders warning that the situation could escalate if not addressed.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, however, has dismissed fears of foreign military occupation, assuring Kenyans that the country’s sovereignty is intact. He reiterated that Kenya’s only real threat along the border remains the Al Shabaab terror group.
“I want to speak clearly: Kenya is not under any threat from Somalia or any regional force from Somalia. The only threat we face is the threat of the Al Shabaab militia,” Murkomen said in an earlier statement.
Opposition leaders, among them Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and former Chief Justice David Maraga, have also weighed in on the matter. They criticized what they termed as a “deafening silence” from the government, urging it to clarify the situation and reassure citizens of their safety.
The claims come amid ongoing instability in Somalia, where federal troops, Al Shabaab militants, and Jubaland regional forces have been engaged in protracted conflict.
