Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen address the press in Busia on September 3, 2025/XInterior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has come out dismiss claims that Kenya has invited Jubaland forces to operate within Mandera County amid reports that the group had taken over some parts of the county.
Murkomen instead stated that their presence is a spillover from ongoing instability in Somalia.
Addressing journalists Busia, Murkomen said Kenya has no agreement or policy that permits either Somali national or regional troops to fight from its soil.
He explained that individuals sighted in Mandera were likely fleeing conflict across the border and had not been sanctioned to operate inside Kenya.
“The people who are in Mandera are not in Kenya on an invitation by the government of Kenya,” he affirmed.
“They may be fleeing wars in their country. Our policy is clear, we do not allow foreign forces, whether national or regional, to fight from our side of the border.”
Murkomen, however, assured Kenyans that investigations are underway to establish the identities of those who crossed into Mandera.
He promised that anyone found to be in the country illegally would be returned home peacefully.
“We want to state that anyone in the county illegally will be taken back to their country in an appropriate manner. There should be no worries with what is happening in Mandera,” he added.
The CS noted that Kenya has often faced similar challenges whenever instability erupts in neighboring countries, particularly Somalia.
“Many times when there are wars or instability in Somalia, people seek refuge in Kenya. That fleeing is not an invitation from Kenya, it is a search for safety. But this is a problem we shall continue to face regularly,” Murkomen explained.
He stressed that Kenya’s concern remains terrorism, not disputes with neighbors.
“We have no fights with anyone. Our war is on terrorism, which continues to threaten our country. Those fleeing to Kenya will be taken back in a friendly way because they have no problem with us,” Murkomen said.
Security officials, he added, have been deployed in Mandera to monitor the situation and prevent any potential spillover of Somalia’s internal strife into Kenyan territory.
A section of leaders from Mandera have expressed concern over the alleged presence of Jubaland forces inside the country.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba said Wednesday, in a statement, that the situation poses a risk to residents and could undermine Kenya’s territorial sovereignty.
“Jubaland forces are now inside Mandera town.Schools have been shut down, businesses paralysed and families displaced in fear of stray bullets, RPGs and unexploded ordnance,” Roba alleged.
He added that an atmosphere of fear had engulfed the town warning that unless urgent action is taken, the consequences could be serious.
Roba also questioned the legal and constitutional basis for the alleged presence of foreign forces in Mandera, arguing that hosting an armed group from a neighbouring country without formal authorisation undermines Kenya’s sovereignty.
“The absurdity of a regional state government fighting its federal government is akin to Mandera County Government declaring war against the Republic of Kenya,” Roba said.
