Written By Lisa Murimi
Tension has surged in Moyale, Marsabit County, after two South Korean missionaries were abducted on Monday evening.
The victims, David Lee and his mother-in-law, Hiwi Sokk Cheon, were seized from their residence within the Odda Mission Church (OMC) Secondary School compound around 9 pm by armed assailants.
The attackers, who remain unidentified, executed a well-planned operation, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the region.
David Lee and Hiwi Sokk Cheon had been actively involved in community outreach programs, offering crucial aid and support to the local population.
Their abduction has deeply shocked the community, raising concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers in the area.
Marsabit County Commissioner James Kamau confirmed the kidnapping and described the attackers as armed with rifles and precise in their approach.
In a separate incident, gunmen ambushed a lorry west of Moyale, killing eight people and setting their bodies on fire, exacerbating the region’s insecurity.
Efforts to locate the missionaries have been challenging. Deputy County Commissioner David Saruni reported that the last signal from Lee’s phone was traced near the Ethiopia border but has since gone cold.
The South Korean embassy in Nairobi is coordinating with Kenyan authorities to secure their release, while national security teams have launched a comprehensive search operation.
Commissioner Kamau assured the public that every effort will be made to recover the hostages and bring the perpetrators to justice.
