Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has pressed President William Ruto to explain the presence of Jubaland armed forces inside Kenyan territory, warning that their activities in Mandera County have disrupted daily life and stoked fear among residents.
Speaking in Tseikuru, Kalonzo said the foreign troops had occupied a primary school in Mandera, forcing classes to a halt.
“The army from Somalia is in Mandera. They are telling us that we should not be afraid and that they have talked with our leaders,” he said. “The President must act to restore order and flush out foreign forces from Kenyan soil.”
The reported deployment has unsettled communities in northern Kenya, where security concerns remain heightened due to frequent clashes across the Somali border. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen moved to calm public fears, dismissing suggestions that Jubaland troops posed a threat to Kenya.
“I want to speak clearly. Kenya is not under any threat from Somalia or any regional force from Somalia. The only threat we face is the threat of the Al Shabaab militia,” Murkomen said.
His reassurance came in response to growing calls from opposition figures demanding clarity on the situation. Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and former Chief Justice David Maraga criticised what they called the “deafening silence” of political leaders over the matter.
The government has yet to provide a detailed explanation of how Jubaland troops reportedly entered Mandera or whether their presence is sanctioned by security agreements between Nairobi and Mogadishu.
