Eugine Wabwile 
TANDAO MEDIA.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a bold new security directive: all chiefs in Mandera County will be armed and trained to bolster local defenses against rising threats along the Kenya–Somalia border.
Speaking during a visit to Mandera on Monday, Murkomen assured residents that security had been restored at the volatile Border One Crossing, following recent reports of Jubaland forces infiltrating Kenyan territory.“We won’t allow external conflict to infiltrate homes, schools, or farms,” Murkomen declared.
“It is our duty to defend and protect our citizens and borders,even when neighboring regions are in turmoil.”The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with leaders like Mandera Governor Adan Khalif warning that incursions by Jubaland forces have disrupted essential services. Murkomen, however, dismissed fears of a broader threat from Somalia, stating that Kenya’s primary concern remains the al-Shabaab militia.
“Kenya is not under threat from Somalia or any regional force.The only threat we face is al-Shabaab,” he reiterated during a recent security forum in Kakamega.The CS urged residents to work closely with security agencies and emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding learners, educators, and the broader community.
The arming of chiefs marks a significant shift in Kenya’s grassroots security strategy, signaling a more localized and proactive approach to counterterrorism and border protection.
