Five Kenyan chiefs who were abducted in February while en route to a security planning meeting ahead of President William Ruto’s visit have been released, local authorities confirmed.
The officials, taken near the Mandera-Somalia border, were freed on Sunday evening after negotiations between regional elders and the abductors reportedly succeeded. The captives were dropped off by unidentified individuals after being held across the border in Somalia for nearly two months.
The chiefs—drawn from Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole administrative areas—were seized between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki while travelling to Elwak Town. Their abduction triggered national security concerns, with President Ruto directing agencies to ensure their safe return.
Government Responds to Security Breach
During a public address in Mandera County on February 4, President Ruto condemned the attackers and promised swift action.
We will deal with the terrorists… no matter what happens, that issue must be promptly addressed, he declared, flanked by senior police officials.
Kenya has since heightened border security amid renewed threats from Al-Shabaab militants, who continue to stage cross-border attacks.
Tensions Rise Along the Border
Just a day before the chiefs’ release, suspected militants launched an attack on a GSU camp in Boni Forest’s Basuba area, firing rocket-propelled grenades. In response, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and GSU units initiated a pursuit of the attackers, as part of broader efforts to stabilize the region.
The developments underscore Kenya’s ongoing battle with insurgent threats along its volatile border with Somalia, where coordination between communities and security forces remains key to counterterrorism efforts.