The state has impounded three World Food Programme trucks for allegedly ferrying food and logistical equipment to al Shabaab militants in Somalia.
Mandera county
commissioner Fredrick Shisia
said they were
destined for
Dholo in Somalia, where the terror group is based.
“We have stopped the transiting of the WFP consignment because of allegations that there was a meeting between the community and the Somalia government to the effect that al-Shabaab be allowed to pick food and other logistical arrangement undeterred,” he said.
Addressing the press in his office on Tuesday, Shisia said the government will not let the militants replenish resources and turn to Kenya, threatening its people and security.
He said the WFP was doing a good job but that arrangements on the ground were unclear and that there suspicions the NGO was supplying the state's enemy with food.
“We need an explanation from WFP as to who is the sole beneficiary of the food programme before we allow it to get into Somalia,” he said.
“We will not allow or assist anybody from our end if those benefiting from the food programme are militants who later turn against our country."
He said a message wanting NGOs out of Mandera was released on Sunday, when the terror group reportedly dispatched fighters to obtain the trucks and carry out attacks in Mandera.
"These are antics of al Shabaab. We appeal to NGOs to confirm the authenticity of such messages with us before taking any action,” he said.
