People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has called out President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Soipan Tuya over the security situation in Mandera County.
Speaking on Friday, September 5, Karua criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for dismissing reports of insecurity, challenging him to personally visit the ground.
"I’ve seen CS Murkomen denying. He should go to Mandera, stand there, and tell us there is nothing happening," she said.
Karua further pressed Ruto to take responsibility, further questioning the silence of Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, suggesting she had failed to fulfill her mandate.
"This is an issue that William Ruto should address directly. And where is the Defence CS, Soipan Tuya? Or is she just a cosmetic Cabinet Secretary? She should be the one talking about it," she added.
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On Wednesday, September 3, Murkomen moved to clarify the government's position on reports of foreign military presence in Mandera County.
Speaking in Busia County, the CS noted that any foreign nationals currently in Kenya are not present on an official government invitation.
Murkomen explained that most are seeking refuge from security challenges in their home countries.
"If there are any people from Somalia here in Kenya, it's not on official invitation. Most of the time, they run from security problems in their country. We will have our security teams investigate and account for any foreign people and make sure they go back to their stations in their country," he stated.
In his reassurance to the residents of Mandera County, Murkomen noted that the government maintains cordial relations with Somalia while prioritizing the fight against terrorism.
"All that you are hearing about Mandera, I want to assure you, there is no need to worry. We don't have problems with them; what we have a problem with is terrorism. Those escaping into our country because of insecurity in their country, we will return them to their country peacefully," he added.
Towards the end of August, Mandera Governor Adan Khalif expressed alarm over what he described as Jubbaland troops operating within the county, particularly around educational facilities in the border area.
He called for immediate intervention from the national government, requesting the relocation of any foreign military presence from the region.
"We want to call upon President William Ruto, also the commander-in-chief, and ask that they close the BP1 camp opened recently. We are asking for an immediate relocation of Jubbaland forces out of Mandera," the governor stated.
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