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Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the Jukwaa la Usalama Nandi County chapter on July 24, 2025. PHOTO | COURTESY | MINA
The government is investigating reports that Jubaland forces from Somalia have allegedly crossed into the country following recent reports from Mandera County residents.
Speaking in Busia at the beginning of his Jukwaa La Usalama tour of Western Kenya, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen refuted the claims, adding that the government will find criminal elements and treat them as per international laws, warning against politicising the issue.
Murkomen, however, said that those seeking refuge will be assisted in collaboration with the Somalia government, which has a good relationship with Kenya.
"When there are challenges, there are citizens who feel endangered and run from neighbouring countries to Kenya. We can't confirm now whether they're forces from where or who they are," he stated.
"It's only until you do proper security analysis and investigations to know if it's forces or civilians. If we reach a stage where there's any challenge, we will tell the country, but at the moment, we don't have any difficulty."
His remarks come amid concerns raised by leaders and former State officials over the matter, calling on President Ruto to act promptly.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua appealed to Ruto to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Mandera to expel the forces allegedly operating within the town.
βIt cannot be that forces from Somalia can come into Kenya and occupy our land and terrorize our people. Yet the government is quiet and the leaders of Mandera are quiet,β Gachagua recently stated.
Similarly, Mandera Governor Adan Khalif claimed that the forces are crippling activities in the county, posing a security risk to residents.
βMandera cannot be turned into a battleground for Somalia. We have no interest in Somalia, we have no business to be involved in their internal affairs,β he noted.
On his part, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa questioned Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya for not publicly addressing the matter and assuring the Kenyans living along the border of their safety.
βIt is a violation of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. I am surprised that up to now, the Defence CS has not said anything, we have not heard anything from KDF. Are they allowing Jubaland forces to operate within Kenyan territory?β Wamalwa posed.
βWe can not allow foreign forces who are heavily armed to come and start operating within our territory. The people of Mandera today are living in fear; some can not access their farms or get their children to school. There are those that are moving away," he added.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
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- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen refuted the claims, adding that the government will find criminal elements and treat them as per international laws, warning against politicizing the issue.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the Jukwaa la Usalama Nandi County chapter on July 24, 2025. PHOTO | COURTESY | MINA
The government is investigating reports that Jubaland forces from Somalia have allegedly crossed into the country following recent reports from Mandera County residents.
Speaking in Busia at the beginning of his Jukwaa La Usalama tour of Western Kenya, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen refuted the claims, adding that the government will find criminal elements and treat them as per international laws, warning against politicising the issue.
Murkomen, however, said that those seeking refuge will be assisted in collaboration with the Somalia government, which has a good relationship with Kenya.
"When there are challenges, there are citizens who feel endangered and run from neighbouring countries to Kenya. We can't confirm now whether they're forces from where or who they are," he stated.
"It's only until you do proper security analysis and investigations to know if it's forces or civilians. If we reach a stage where there's any challenge, we will tell the country, but at the moment, we don't have any difficulty."
His remarks come amid concerns raised by leaders and former State officials over the matter, calling on President Ruto to act promptly.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua appealed to Ruto to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Mandera to expel the forces allegedly operating within the town.
βIt cannot be that forces from Somalia can come into Kenya and occupy our land and terrorize our people. Yet the government is quiet and the leaders of Mandera are quiet,β Gachagua recently stated.
Similarly, Mandera Governor Adan Khalif claimed that the forces are crippling activities in the county, posing a security risk to residents.
βMandera cannot be turned into a battleground for Somalia. We have no interest in Somalia, we have no business to be involved in their internal affairs,β he noted.
On his part, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa questioned Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya for not publicly addressing the matter and assuring the Kenyans living along the border of their safety.
βIt is a violation of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. I am surprised that up to now, the Defence CS has not said anything, we have not heard anything from KDF. Are they allowing Jubaland forces to operate within Kenyan territory?β Wamalwa posed.
βWe can not allow foreign forces who are heavily armed to come and start operating within our territory. The people of Mandera today are living in fear; some can not access their farms or get their children to school. There are those that are moving away," he added.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
