Internal Security Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo has given an update on the 5 chiefs who were abducted in Mandera on February 3, 2025, ahead of President William Ruto’s visit to the Northeastern region.
Speaking in a radio interview with Spice FM, the Interior PS said that the government is still in negotiation with the abductors for their release.
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“What we have done and the President did pronounce himself that he will do what it takes to secure the five chiefs. We are constantly engaging; they crossed to a neighboring country. Interestingly, the borders are actually temporary distinctions between countries.
The communities are the same. So, there are active engagements to ensure they are safely back in the country and then resume their duties,” Omollo said.
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Omollo Issues Update on Abducted 5 Chiefs
Furthermore, the Interior PS acknowledged that even senior public officials are not immune to external security threats.
“The five chiefs have been taken by terrorists, or what we call Al-Shabaab, and this demonstrates that none of us is immune to some of these insecurity incidents,” Omolo stated.
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At the same time, the Interior PS also discussed the case of the Wajir MCA, Yussuf Hussein, who was released by his abductors on the night of Saturday, March 8.
Also Read: PS Raymond Omollo Reveals the Lessons Govt Picked from Gen Z Protests
Omollo said that it would be interesting to know what happened to the MCA within the 6 months he was under captivity and denied any government’s involvement in his abduction.
“We are very clear as a government that it is not a government policy to do abductions, and the President has been very clear on this and equivocal about this. This can never happen and will never happen under his watch,” Omollo stated.
Interior PS Speaks on Abduction of Wajir MCA
On allegations that police officers are involved in abductions, the interior PS stated that the government has robust mechanisms to hold people to account.
Raymond’s assurance comes a month after the chiefs were abducted by suspected Al Shabaab Militants.
Also Read: Wajir MCA Reveals Details of His Abduction After Missing for 6 Months
The five chiefs were abducted on Monday, February 3, 2025.
They were traveling from Wargadud to Elwak in Mandera County for a security meeting when they were ambushed and kidnapped by suspected al Shabab militants.
President Ruto during his visit in Mandera County on February 4, 2025, assured Mandera residents that his administration would pursue the suspected Al-Shabaab militants who abducted the chiefs.
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