Mandera County Boss Ali Roba has warned of a plan by Al-shabaab to cut off Madera County from the rest of the country.
“Alshabaab have successfully managed to isolate Mandera from the rest of the country by targeting teachers to cripple the education sector, the health worker to cripple the sector and the quarry workers to cripple the construction industry," said Roba.
"Now they have moved to a new level by targeting the non-locals to isolate Mandera. They have moved a notch higher by targeting the communication networks within the country. I believe with a conviction as the governor of this county that Al-Shabaab have a bigger plan to cut off Mandera from the rest of the country,” stated Roba.
Roba further stated that the national government needs to act urgently, citing that it is a matter of national security.
“With the communication network targeted, it means the moment they start running over Mandera, I will take a number of days before communication gets out. The government needs to seriously wake up to this reality,” warned Roba.
He further questioned the commitment of the national government to address the issue of security following earlier attacks.
“I don’t understand as the governor why after the first mast was attacked sufficient security was not provided for all its masts in the county. The reality is Ashabaab are within the Kenyan border and they are within Mandera County,” he further stated.
“We urge the national government to really see the clear and present danger that is taking shape in Mandera County, as a problem that deserves the attention of national security and with the magnitude it deserves to put this issue to rest," he added.