President William Ruto today chose to address Mandera residents from the top of his vehicle after other leaders used the dais at Moi stadium.
The security precaution comes hours after five chiefs were abducted by suspected members of the outlawed al Shabaab terror group.
Addressing the crowd from the roof of a car, the president assured that security agencies had been given firm directives to ensure the safe return of the five abducted chiefs.
President Ruto addresses the crowd in Mandera from the roof of a car. Photo: Courtesy.
”Security of our country is very paramount as we are fighting with insurgents, criminals and all sorts of delinquents. We will deal with the terrorists and that is why I have come with the Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli that no matter what happens that issue must be promptly addressed,” Ruto asserted.
The five administrators were travelling from Wargadud to Elwak Town for official duty.
They were from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole and were aboard a vehicle at the time of the incident.
The vehicle ferrying the chiefs to Elwak was hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South.
Kenya’s security multi-agency teams operating under the Special Operations Group quick response unit encountered an IED attack while responding to the incident.
This led to delays in the rescue efforts to help bring the five chiefs home, with the insurgents making away with the administrators.
Mandera County has been a hotbed of al-Shabaab insurgents targeting locals and chiefs, with similar incidents reported in the previous years.
