President Ruto vows to rescue chiefs abducted by Al-Shabaab militants
President William Ruto has
pledged to bring back the five chiefs who were abducted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Monday in Mandera County, saying the country will not cede an inch
to criminals.
Ruto’s four-day working tour
of the Northeastern region began on Tuesday, a few kilometres from the location
where suspected Al-Shabaab militants reportedly intercepted a vehicle ferrying the
five chiefs who were on official duty travelling to Elwak Town in Mandera
County, to prepare the ground for his visit.
According to Ruto, government
security agencies, led by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), are currently in hot
pursuit of the militants and are working to return the chiefs back home.
“Hawa machief lazima warudi
nyumbani. Jana hawa magaidi walitaka kuleta hali ya hofu eneo hili; walidhani
wakifanya hivyo sitakuja Mandera. Mimi nimekuja Mandera na nikalala Mandera na
ikizidi ntalala Mandera,” said Ruto.
Further, Ruto vowed to
decimate the militia group, which has been reigning terror in the region.
“We are not going to cede an
inch of our country to criminals…we will go after them, deal with them and
eliminate them,” he said.
The head of state likewise trained
his guns on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of driving a
wedge between the working class and those yet to secure formal employment.
“Mara wanataka kutugawanya
nani wa mlima nani wa bonde. Nani wa mlima nani wa bonde…nani ako na pay slip
nani hana pay slip. Hao watu they have no plan, no agenda, they are leaderless,”
he said.
The president also promised to
end vetting for residents of the northern frontier counties, who have been
undergoing mandatory vetting to receive their national identity cards.
“Kesho niko na ceremony kubwa
ya kuondoa mambo ya vetting ilikuwa inakandamiza watu wa northern Kenya wakati
wanatafuta kitambulisho, ama mambo ya passport,” he said.
As he did in other counties
during his trips, the head of state came carrying a bag of goodies for the
region, pledging among other things, the construction of a 740km Isiolo-Mandera
road, Ksh.1.8 billion for 6 markets and Ksh.2.6 billion for electrification in
Mandera County. The county is expected to be connected to the grid from
Ethiopia.
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