Leaders from four counties along the Kenya-Somalia border gathered in Wajir County to address the pressing issue of Al-Shabaab insurgency in the region.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif made a startling revelation, stating that 60 per cent of Mandera County is under the control of the notorious militant group.
The Al-Shabaab presence has severely impacted service delivery and security in various parts of the county, prompting urgent discussions and calls for collaborative action.
During the security meeting, Governor Mohamed emphasized the detrimental effect of the militants on public service delivery.
"Mandera County, for example, 60 per cent is controlled by Al-Shabaab. We cannot offer services and are only confined at the County Headquarters," Mohamed said.
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The alarming rise in attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab in the affected areas became a focal point of the meeting.
Leaders from Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu expressed concern over the escalating incidence of assaults on security personnel, telecommunication masts, and roads.
Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi stressed the importance of community involvement in curbing terrorist activities.
"This meeting among other issues discussed how to sensitize the local community against helping those seeking to cause insecurity in our region," the governor said.
Lamu East MP Ruweida Mohamed echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the attacks pose a significant threat to both security forces and civilians.
"The attacks in our counties are not only a threat to security personnel. This is affecting the people as well, we leaders included," Ruweida stated.
In the face of these challenges, the leaders called for stronger support from the national government to combat the relentless Al-Shabaab insurgency.
Governor Abdullahi emphasized the need for close coordination.
"While the national government is also focused on addressing national security, we need close coordination to fight Al-Shabaab and terrorism in the region," he said.
North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno acknowledged the longstanding instability in Somalia and the porous border shared with Kenya as significant factors contributing to the cross-border attacks.
He emphasized that community engagement was crucial to ending these attacks.
"There is, therefore, a need for community engagement," Otieno said.
The security meeting served as a platform to discuss resolutions on how to counter Al-Shabaab, as well as the importance of community sensitization to identify and weed out individuals who support the terror outfit.
As the leaders continue to work towards a comprehensive solution, the threat posed by Al-Shabaab remains a critical concern for the North Eastern region.
The situation requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the root causes of terrorism and create a safer and more secure environment for the residents of the affected counties.
