Five Kenyan local administrators abducted by suspected al-Shabaab militants in February have described enduring 62 days of captivity in Somalia, emerging to appeal for psychological support and enhanced defenses against the Somalia-based Islamist group.
The chiefs — Adaw Abdi Mohammed, Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Nur, Ibrahim Gabow, and Abdi Hassan Suraw — were ambushed on February 3 while traveling from Wargadud to Elwak in Mandera South sub-county for routine duties, including national ID screenings. Gunmen hijacked their vehicle near the porous Kenya-Somalia border, dragging them across into Somalia, officials said. An improvised explosive device delayed a multi-agency rescue attempt.
Speaking at a Jukwaa la Usalama security assessment forum in Elwak on Tuesday, the administrators detailed their “harrowing” ordeal, marked by isolation and uncertainty.
“We went through a lot of suffering there, leaving our families in distress,” Adaw Abdi Mohammed told the gathering, according to local media.
They credited national prayers for sustaining them until a “miraculous” release in early April, facilitated by collaborative efforts between Kenyan security forces, Mandera county officials, and community leaders.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hailed the men as “heroes who served on the edge of danger” and pledged head-of-state commendations during upcoming Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20.
“We will give them head of state commendation,” he said, vowing improved welfare and arming/training for administrators in high-risk frontier counties.
The chiefs endorsed the plan, calling for better tools and logistics to “confront the terror threat head-on.”
Mandera, a strategic border hub, has long grappled with al-Shabaab incursions. A 2023 report by the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies documented 72 attacks in northeastern Kenya that year, with Mandera suffering 25 incidents and 72 deaths — the highest toll. The group, affiliated with al-Qaeda, often targets officials to sow chaos and extract ransoms, exploiting weak border controls and alleged local complicity.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations head Mohamed Amin urged residents to shun “practices that compromise security,” including hiding criminals or colluding in identity fraud.
“When we hide our criminals within us, crime will thrive. We should not be surprised,” he warned, citing cases of foreigners obtaining Kenyan documents illicitly.
The abductions underscore escalating cross-border risks, timed just before President William Ruto’s February tour of the northeast. As Kenya bolsters community policing and proposes joint civil-security frameworks, experts say sustained local cooperation is key to curbing al-Shabaab’s reach.
The chiefs’ return offers a rare victory, but with Somalia’s instability persisting, border communities brace for prolonged vigilance.
