Wamuzi News Ke
Mandera County has once again been thrust into the spotlight after its Governor, a close ally of President William Ruto, made a startling revelation that more than 60 percent of the county is under the control of Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab.
Speaking during a public address, the Governor warned that Kenya’s territorial integrity is under serious threat, with militants openly controlling vast swathes of Mandera. He further claimed that other parts of the county are not under the Kenyan government’s jurisdiction but are instead dominated by Jubaland forces, raising fresh concerns over sovereignty and national security.
The Governor’s remarks have ignited heated debate across political and security circles, with critics questioning the role and responsibility of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Ruto is being accused of complicity and failure in protecting the nation’s borders, given the continued escalation of insecurity in the region.
For years, Mandera has remained a soft target for terrorist attacks, with schools, security officers, and civilians bearing the brunt of Al-Shabaab’s violent activities. However, this is the first time a sitting Governor has openly admitted that the Kenyan government has lost control of such a vast portion of the territory.
Security analysts now warn that the Governor’s revelation paints a grim picture of Kenya’s northern frontier, where citizens live in constant fear, trapped between terrorist insurgents and foreign forces. The admission also raises critical questions about the effectiveness of Kenya’s multi-billion-shilling counter-terrorism operations, including the deployment of troops under Operation Linda Nchi and the ongoing presence of KDF inside Somalia.
As the controversy unfolds, Kenyans are demanding urgent action from the national government to restore confidence, protect territorial borders, and end the prolonged state of insecurity in Mandera.
