Boniface Mwangi slams Ruto’s new directive to open Somali border
By Cynthia Lodite, February 14, 2026Presidential aspirant and Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has come out criticising President William Ruto’s new directive to open up the Kenya-Somali border, stating that it is a vote-calculation move ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Taking to his official X account on Saturday, February 14, 2026, Mwangi explained that Ruto’s directive was nothing short of drawing the highest number of newly registered voters as the country gears up for the highly anticipated elections.
“Mandera and the North Eastern counties will likely have the highest number of newly registered voters. Ukora tupu!,” Mwangi said.
Ruto’s directive
Boniface’s remarks come days after President William Ruto announced the reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border after a fifteen-year closure of the Mandera Border post.
Speaking during the NYOTA Capital Disbursement event at Mandera Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Ruto stated that the opening was long overdue, following years of deliberations and thorough security assessments.
On his part, Ruto acknowledged the challenges faced by people living on the border, noting that it was indeed unfair that the majority of residents remained cut off from their kin and neighbours in Somalia due to the prolonged closure.
“It is unacceptable that fellow Kenyans in Mandera remain cut off from their kin and neighbours in Somalia due to the prolonged closure of the Mandera Border Post,” Ruto said.
Notably, the border was officially closed in October 2011 due to attacks by Al-Shabaab, who had been waging an insurgency against the federal government in Mogadishu for more than 15 years.
According to President William Ruto, the border post will be reopened in April, restoring connectivity and revitalising cross-border trade for the mutual prosperity of Kenyans and Somali people.
“Accordingly, we will reopen the border post in April, restoring connectivity and revitalising cross-border trade for the mutual prosperity of our people,” Ruto stated.
Border reopening outcry
In May 2024, Kenya and Somalia agreed to gradually reopen three border crossings: Mandera–Beled Hawo, Garissa–Liboi, and Wajir–Elwak.
However, plans stalled following deadly attacks in June that left eight police officers killed in Garissa when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.
During the time, the government announced it was postponing the reopening of its border with Somalia after the attacks on its soil attributed to radical Al-Shabaab Islamists.
At the time, the then Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited Dadaab refugee camp, announcing the postponement .