BY PATRICK VIDIJA

Al Shabaab militants are roaming freely in Mandera county, residents have said. The residents said the militia men have forced them to close their businesses, stormed mosques and forced non-locals to leave.

They were speaking during a peace meeting held by the county government in Jenaveve town on Monday.

County commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo said during the meeting that the situation is not because of the failure of security systems. He noted however that residents have been withholding information on the al Shabaab from authorities.

Nkoyo further noted that illegal immigrants from Somalia sneak into Mandera on a daily basis and are immediately issued with Kenyan ID cards.

“Let us embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative to fight terror,” he urged. Local leaders appealed to the residents to relay any information they have on the terror group to the authorities.

“We shall stand and support the government, let them come and sweep all Somalis out of Mandera,” said Suleiman Mahamud Issack who was seconded by Mandera MYWO chairperson Ubah Gedi.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba, Industrialisation CS Adan Mohammed and Senator Billow Kerrow also attended the meeting which follows two latest attacks in the county that left a total of 64 people dead.

On November 22, the al Shabaab ambushed a bus heading to Nairobi and killed 28 non-Muslims, and on On December 2 they raided a quarry in Koromey, 15 km from Mandera town, killing 36 people .

Source: The Star