Mandera residents want county officer transferred

Mandera, Kenya: Hundreds of Mandera County residents hit the streets, protesting runaway murders by suspected Somalia based Al-Shabaab militia.

The residents, led by local political, religious and community leaders, gave County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo two days to leave, or face mass protests.

A section of Members of the County Assembly have also blamed Mr Nkoyo for the current insecurity and demanded his immediate transfer.

Governor Ali Roba recently survived narrowly, after two vehicles in his convoy were hit by a rocket-propelled explosive, thrown by suspected Al-Shabaab militia. That was the fifth attempt on his life in less than a year.

The Governor has expressed discomfort working with his county’s top security brass, saying they are taking casually the threats to his life.

Mandera Township Ward MCA Feissal Abdinur Issack, also accused the county commissioner of watching as Al-Shabbab continue to kill residents unabated. Abdinur called on the top county security agents to work with the Governor and other leaders to beef up security.

Nkoyo’s predicament started when Roba’s security vehicle was attacked a week ago,  where three people, security officers and a former civic leader were killed in explosives attacks.

The County Commissioner said: “Roba was not the target since the attackers were on a mission to carjack two vehicles transporting Miraa to Mandera from Meru”. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, however, defended Nkoyo’s track record, saying it is beyond reproach and termed the attack a mere banditry attack.