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Five chiefs from Elwak in Mandera South have spoken publicly for the first time about their two-month ordeal after being kidnapped by suspected al-Shabaab militants and held inside Somalia.
The chiefs — Adaw Abdi Mohammed, Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Nur, Ibrahim Gabow, Abdi Hassan, and Abdi Hassan Suraw — were abducted and remained in captivity for 62 days before they were eventually freed. Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama Security Baraza in Elwak town, they recounted how they endured unimaginable suffering while their families lived in fear and distress back home.
Adaw Abdi Mohammed described their experience as deeply painful. “We went through a lot of suffering there, leaving our families in distress,” he said. The chiefs thanked Kenyans for their prayers and goodwill, saying it was this national solidarity that gave them hope and strength to survive until their release.
Even though they are now back home, the scars of captivity remain. Many of them are still traumatized and financially strained, having been unable to work during the two months they were missing. They are now appealing for urgent assistance, asking both for counseling to help them heal from psychological wounds and for financial support to ease the economic hardships their families are going through.
“Our families are struggling. We have been out of work for two months. We have written a request to government asking for help,” said Mohammed Hassan.
The chiefs also expressed strong support for the government’s plan to arm and train local administrators in frontier counties so they can better protect themselves and their communities against the threat of terrorism. They urged authorities to provide practical tools such as motorbikes and support from the National Police Reservists (NPRs) to make their work easier and safer.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen praised the chiefs for their courage and resilience, describing them as heroes who risked their lives at the frontline of insecurity. He announced that the government will honor them during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations, pledging to also improve welfare and security measures for administrators working in high-risk areas. “We will honor you and respond to the challenges chiefs in the frontier counties undergo,” Murkomen assured.
Security agencies are also emphasizing the need for community cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Authorities have cautioned residents in Mandera to avoid actions that undermine security efforts. Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin particularly urged chiefs to uphold integrity in their work, especially in the handling of identification processes, warning that corruption could compromise national security.
The chiefs’ story highlights the vulnerability of local administrators working in frontier counties where al-Shabaab militants continue to threaten peace and stability. Their appeal for counseling, financial support, and better logistical tools underlines the difficult balance they face — serving communities on the frontline of danger while struggling to provide for their own families.
As the nation prepares to recognize them on Mashujaa Day, their ordeal serves as a reminder of the resilience of Kenyan administrators working under extreme pressure, and the urgent need for stronger community-government collaboration to defeat terrorism in border regions.