During his development tour of northern Kenya, President William Ruto met with Mandera County authorities. On the first day of his visit to Mandera, President Ruto actively participated in community engagement events and announced many development initiatives targeted at upgrading infrastructure and social services in this historically marginalised region.
Photos circulating on social media showed highly armed special police officers and other plain-clothed policemen forming a protective barrier between Ruto and the throng. These photographs rapidly went viral, eliciting a wide range of opinions from Kenyans, with some observing that the security detail appeared to exceed the audience. Speaking in Mandera, President Ruto condemned the recent abductions, branding them as cowardly acts that would be dealt with full legal repercussions.
He informed the people of Mandera that he was not scared by the threats, declaring that despite the dangers, he would spend the night in the county to show his support for the region.President William Ruto also asked the National Police Service (NPS) to investigate the matter and ensure the safe release of the kidnapped chiefs, with Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli overseeing the operation.
The Head of State also issued a harsh warning to those participating in terrorism, stating that the government will aggressively investigate, prosecute, and eliminate those guilty for such atrocities. The chiefs were kidnapped on February 3 in Elwak, Mandera County. During President William Ruto’s tour of Mandera County, Duale pushed the President to ensure that the region has electricity before the Ramadhan celebrations, which are set to begin on March 1, 2025.
By Kenyans