Five chiefs abducted in Mandera released after two months

The five chiefs abducted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera have been released after more than 60 days in captivity inside Somalia, the government has announced.

Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday said the administrators under the Office of the President were in the hands of Kenyan authorities.

The five are Mohamed Adawa, Mohamed Hassan, Abdi Hassan, Mohamed Noor Hache and Assistant Chief Ibrahim Gabow.

The process of reuniting them with their families, he said, was ongoing.

“We have good news that our chiefs who were abducted in Mandera have been released and they are now in the hands of Kenyan officials and they will be arriving home anytime soon,” Mr Murkomen said during a security meeting in Mombasa.

“I am confirming the release of five chiefs who were abducted in Mandera, this is very good news based on collaborative efforts. As I announced before, as a government we decided to work together with the community and county government of Mandera and the processes have borne fruits,” said the CS.

However, when contacted by the Nation, Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako appeared to skirt around the issue, insisting that he could neither confirm nor deny the chiefs’ release.

"I cannot confirm or deny because we are yet to see them. Until they are on our side, then we cannot say they have been released," he said by phone.

Just like the county commissioner, the county police commander Robinson Ndiwa remained cagey.

“We have heard the good news but until they are in our hands, I cannot confirm their release,” he said.

Held separately

The five were held separately within the Jilib area inside Somalia, according to early reports shared by a group of elders from Kenya that has been in Somalia for about two months.

Jilib is a town under Al-Shabaab rule and is about 400 kilometres from Mandera.

In Wargadud, the hometown of the five chiefs, families and friends gathered immediately the news was broken to them.

According to residents, news of their release was delivered on Sunday evening by the elders who had gone to negotiate in Somalia.

“We received a call from the elders who went into Somalia. The same was announced at the Mosque last evening,” he said.

Without quoting a figure, sources in Mandera indicated that funds contributed by both county and national governments was involved.

Read: Abducted Mandera chiefs: Local elders left to negotiate as families say victims were sickly

Kidnapped before Ruto tour

The five were kidnapped on Warggadud-Elwak Road as they headed to Elwak town for official duty.

The incident happened hours before President William Ruto arrived in Mandera to commence his week-long political tour of North Eastern region.

While in Mandera, President Ruto vowed to ensure the five are set free and rejoin their families.

Last month, Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo confirmed involvement of the national government in the rescue of chiefs. While appearing on a local TV morning show, Dr Omollo said the State would not use military force.

“There's no silence on the issue of the abducted chiefs...a lot is going on, some of which we may not be able to discuss on air,” Dr Omollo said at the time.

watieno@ke.nationmedia.com