Kenya to send Somali Elders to Negotiate Release of Abducted Chiefs

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI:  The Kenyan government has said it plans to send a delegation of Somali elders to negotiate the release of five chiefs abducted Monday in Mandera County near the Kenya-Somalia border. 

According to an official privy to the operation, Kenyan authorities have opted to send the elders to engage in negotiations for the safe return of the elders who were abducted by unknown individuals.

“Unless they are killed, which may not happen, we have to send elders to negotiate with their counterparts in Somalia for the release of the administrators,” the official said.

The officials maintained that they believe that the administrators were abducted by members of the Al-Shabaab militant group who have a history of cross-border attacks and kidnappings in the region. 

According to police and witnesses, the five chiefs were traveling by car to Elwak when they were ambushed and hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki. 

The incident came ahead of a visit by Kenya’s president William Ruto
to Mandera, Garissa, and Wajir Counties as part of efforts to address regional development priorities and engage local communities.