Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that 5 Chiefs who were abducted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera have been released.
According to CS Murkomen, the 5 chiefs are in the hands of Kenyan officials and will be arriving in the country soon and reunite with their families.
Murkomen moreover noted that the chiefs were released following collaborative efforts of the national government, the local community, and the Mandera County government.
CS Murkomen speaks after 5 abducted chiefs were released. Photo: Courtesy.
“Our chiefs that were abducted in Mandera have been released, and they are now in the hands of Kenyan officials, and they will be arriving home anytime soon.This is very good news and is based on collaborative efforts as I announced before that as government we decided to work together with the community and the county government of Mandera and this process has borne fruit,” said Murkomen.
The chiefs were from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole and were aboard a vehicle at the time of the incident.
They were hijacked and forcibly taken by gunmen on February 3, 2025, at the Elwak area in Mandera County, just a day before President William Ruto visited the Northern Kenya region.
They were traveling in a Mazda vehicle, which belongs to Chief Mohamednur Hache, when they were intercepted by the militants
Speaking after the incident, President Ruto said the abductions of the chiefs were meant to disrupt his tour to the northern part of Kenya.
Kenya is currently on alert following the renewed efforts of the Al-Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia and along the borders of Kenya.
