Residents in certain areas in Garissa and the neighbouring Tana River counties are living in a state of fear following the mysterious disappearances of their kin.
There appears to be a string running through all the stories related by affected families: One of their own leaves for work in the morning and never returns home.
''My brother left in the morning for work but he never returned. It's a week now since he disappeared and all our efforts to try to locate him have borne no fruits. I am worried. My father is sick and worried to death,'' Kassim says battling tears.
Khatib has a similar story: His brother also left one morning and it's been days since they last heard from.
Residents fear that their kin could be falling victim to clandestine operations aimed at Alshabaab militants by authorities.
Already quite a number of residents have started fleeing in a frantic bid to seek refuge in volatile Somalia.
#bizarre