Mandera County Senator Ali Roba has issued a stern warning over the reported presence of Jubaland troops inside Mandera town, terming it a grave threat to Kenya’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, through his X handle, Roba alleged that Jubaland forces, alongside Somalia’s federal troops, have taken control of sections of Mandera, paralysing daily life and spreading fear among residents.
“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,” the Senator said. He added that the town is engulfed in fear as both sides continue to amass weapons in preparation for possible conflict.
Roba described the situation as humiliating and unacceptable, equating it to a scenario where a Kenyan county government declares war against the national government. “Shockingly, Jubaland forces are consolidating their strength inside Mandera town on Kenyan soil, literally taking over our community,” he lamented.
The Senator stressed that Kenya’s long-term interests lie in strengthening relations with Somalia’s federal government rather than supporting regional factions whose actions now endanger Kenyan lives.
Calling for immediate intervention, Roba held the Kenyan state responsible for the safety and security of Mandera residents. “Allowing Jubaland troops to operate in Mandera, putting Kenyan lives and property at mortal risk, is shameful, reckless, and a betrayal of our people. Foreign conflicts must be fought on foreign soil, not on the streets of Mandera,” he declared.
He further cautioned that continued inaction could force local leaders and residents to organize for their own defence, a move he warned could worsen instability and tarnish Kenya’s image internationally.
“We make it plain: our people come first, always. Kenya must act NOW,” Roba emphasized.
The statement comes amid growing concerns over cross-border insecurity, with Mandera often caught in the spillover of Somalia’s prolonged conflict between federal and regional forces.
