Suspected Al Shabaab militants have kidnapped at least five chiefs in Mandera County, Northern Kenya, police said.
Mandera South Sub-County Police Commander Julius Njeru on Monday said the national government administration officers were travelling to Elwak town for identification card screening.
“At about 8.30 am, suspected Al Shabaab militants hijacked a vehicle that was transporting administrators towards Elwak town in the Eres-suki area. Five chiefs are reported missing, including the vehicle,” Mr Njeru said by phone.
The reported abduction of the chiefs comes hours before President William Ruto lands in Mandera to kick off his five-day tour of the northeastern region.
President Ruto is expected in Mandera on Tuesday before touring Wajir and winding up his tour in Garissa on Friday.
It remained unclear if the missing government officers were in uniform or civilian clothing.
Al Shabaab militia have always targeted government officers in Mandera, accusing them of being informers.
“Chiefs and their assistants are always at risk. Al-Shabaab group hunts them for abduction or killing,” Mr Omar Abdullahi, a resident of Mandera said.
According to Mr Abdullahi, Al Shabaab believe the chiefs and their assistants feed the government with information on their clandestine local operations.
“Most chiefs don’t reside in their areas of jurisdiction fearing the Al-Shabaab group. They are on the list of the most wanted by the militants for being government officers,” he said.
In 2017, location chief Omar Jillo was killed by suspected Al Shabaab militants at his home.
The chief was instrumental in intelligence gathering on Al Shabaab operations in his area, according to locals.
