Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando has joined other leaders in sounding the alarm over what he describes as a grave security and sovereignty crisis in Mandera County, calling out President William Ruto for failing in his duty as Commander-in-Chief.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, August 3, 2025, Kabando drew attention to the revelations made earlier by Mandera Governor Ali Roba, who said foreign forces and terrorists were tightening their grip on the border county.

“The Governor of Mandera, a close ally of President Ruto, has claimed that parts of the county are under the control of Al-Shabaab terrorists, warning that hostile forces are violating Kenya’s territorial integrity. He further alleged that other areas are occupied by Jubaland troops, raising the question of whether the Commander-in-Chief of the KDF bears complicity in the situation, or failure?” Kabando said.

His remarks come days after Governor Roba raised an alarm that Jubaland troops had crossed into Mandera and were consolidating strength on Kenyan soil, displacing families and shutting down schools and businesses. Roba warned that this amounted to a humiliation of Kenya’s sovereignty and demanded immediate action from the national government.

Jubaland forces in Mandera

Jubaland is a semi-autonomous region in southern Somalia, maintaining a tense relationship with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu.

For years, Kenya has been accused of siding with Jubaland in regional disputes, a policy that critics now argue has backfired. Jubaland forces have been reported to move freely into Mandera, raising questions about border control and the safety of Kenyan citizens.

Kabando’s statement builds on this concern by directly tying the insecurity in Mandera to the national government’s leadership. By highlighting that the governor of Mandera is an ally of Ruto, Kabando implied that the administration can no longer ignore the depth of the crisis.

Former governor Roba had earlier described the unfolding situation as “shameful, reckless, and a betrayal of our people,” warning that if the government fails to act, Mandera residents may be forced to mobilise to protect themselves. Kabando’s remarks now echo that warning, placing the burden squarely on the state to guarantee territorial integrity.

Mandera remains one of Kenya’s most vulnerable counties, often caught between Al Shabaab’s insurgency and Somalia’s internal political conflicts. With leaders like Kabando wa Kabando now joining Roba in raising the alarm, pressure is mounting on the government to act decisively before the situation escalates into a deeper national security crisis.