Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has sparked national debate after issuing a stern warning over the presence of Jubaland forces in Mandera County. The Governor said foreign troops have turned parts of Mandera into a battlefield, with residents bearing the brunt of insecurity and disruption of daily life.
Speaking during a public address, Khalif revealed that a local primary school had been closed down and converted into a military base by the forces, leaving students stranded ahead of national examinations. He condemned the move, saying education and the future of Kenyan children cannot be sacrificed for foreign interests.
The Governor accused the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) of supporting Jubaland troops instead of protecting Kenyan citizens. He urged President William Ruto’s government to act immediately, warning that if the national government does not remove the foreign soldiers, Mandera leaders and residents would be forced to take matters into their own hands.
“Mandera is not a battlefield. You cannot lock people out of their land, shut schools, and cut off water supplies, then expect us to stay silent. If the government will not act, we will defend our land ourselves,” Khalif declared.
His statement has raised tension not only in Mandera but also across the country, with many Kenyans questioning how foreign forces were allowed to establish camps within Kenyan territory. Local leaders, including Senator Ali Roba, echoed Khalif’s concerns, saying residents have been living in fear due to stray bullets and explosions from cross-border clashes.
Governor Khalif also cautioned Ethiopia against using Mandera as a staging ground for its own operations, urging the neighboring state to respect Kenya’s sovereignty.
The warning comes amid the ongoing Jubaland crisis, a long-standing conflict involving Somali federal forces and Jubaland troops, which has often spilled over into Kenya’s border counties. Mandera, located at the intersection of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, has remained one of the most vulnerable regions to instability and militant activity.
Khalif’s bold stand has placed the national government under pressure to reassure citizens that Kenya’s borders and sovereignty remain secure. The coming days will reveal whether Nairobi responds to the Governor’s ultimatum—or whether Mandera leaders will indeed take independent action to protect their people.
