Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen has continued with his vow to help local chiefs lead a better life, as he confirmed that five chiefs who had been abducted in Mandera have been safely reconnected with their families.
Speaking on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Murkomen said that the chiefs had been reunited with their families a mere two hours earlier and emphasised that he, alongside the government, had been deeply concerned, which is why they had done everything within their power to ensure the chiefs returned home safely.
“I sincerely thank everyone involved for the efforts I announced the other day — the collaboration between the county government and the national government has been made possible through a system of Nyumba Kumi and elders. The chiefs who were abducted in Mandera returned home just two hours ago, and that is very important because we were extremely worried about them.”
Murkomen went on to praise the vital work done by chiefs, vowing that all who die in the line of duty — or face life-threatening situations due to their responsibilities — will be supported by the government to live better and more secure lives.
He stressed that the government recognises the essential work chiefs do and understands the immense pressure they face. Moving forward, he assured the public that the welfare of chiefs will be a major focus, with deliberate efforts to ensure their protection and well-being.
According to him, the government is fully aware that chiefs are often at the centre of community conflicts, and when they intervene, they are frequently met with retaliation, such as having their homes torched. He reiterated that this is why the government has been making urgent efforts to support them.
“This is very good news for us because we were genuinely worried about our chiefs. For those who have been attacked while addressing insecurity, we will take action. And for those who have lost their lives while serving the public — whether their homes have been burnt or their property destroyed — we will take care of their families. If they have died in the line of duty, that is something we take very seriously.”
Chies abducted
Earlier, on April 7, 2025, Murkomen confirmed the release of the five Kenyan chiefs who were held captive by the Islamist terrorist group Al Shabaab in Somalia for two months.
Speaking to the media on Monday, April 7, 2025, Murkomen announced that the chiefs were freed through a collaborative effort involving the national government, the Mandera county government, and the local border community.
“Our chiefs that were abducted in Mandera have now been released, and they are in the hands of Kenyan officials. They will be arriving home anytime soon. This is very good news, based [on] collaborative efforts,” Murkomen said.
He clarified that while the chiefs were released to Kenyan officials, they had not yet crossed back into Kenyan territory.
“We will be commenting further in the near future once our chiefs are in the country. I will give you even more updates on the progress and what we are doing,” Murkomen added.
Murkomen also commended the work of security officials in safeguarding Kenya’s borders.
“The thing that many Kenyans need to know is that our country is safe because there are men and women who are making great sacrifices. The fact that we don’t discuss threats of terrorism and Al Shabaab and so forth every day does not mean that our country is not facing constant threats from these elements. The real meaning is that the men and women who have gone out there working in the field especially along our borders are doing a fantastic job to protect the rest of us,” he stated.
The five chiefs were abducted on February 3, 2025, in the Elwak area of Mandera County, a day before President William Ruto’s visit to the region.
They were travelling in a vehicle belonging to one of the chiefs when they were intercepted by Al Shabaab militants.
President Ruto, after the incident, suggested that the abductions were an attempt to disrupt his tour.
“These people thought that I would not come if they did what they did yesterday. I have not only come to Mandera but I am also going to sleep here. If I want, I can also sleep here again because this is part of Kenya,” Ruto said.
He directed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to lead security operations to ensure the chiefs’ safe return.
The chiefs were abducted between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South.
The Kenyan government, working with local elders, had been actively pursuing their release.
Ruto, during his visit to Mandera, vowed to deal with the Al Shabaab militants.
“We will deal with the terrorists, and that is why I have come with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, to say that no matter what happens, that issue must be promptly addressed,” Ruto asserted.
The incident occurred amidst heightened security concerns in Kenya due to increased Al Shabaab activity along the border with Somalia.