Gachagua Raises Alarm Over Mandera Attack, Demands Removal of “Illegal Foreign Jubaland Forces” Saying They Are Responsible For Killings In The Area

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sparked fresh debate over security in Northern Kenya after linking the recent deadly attack in Mandera County to the alleged presence of foreign Jubaland forces operating inside Kenyan territory.

In a strongly worded statement following the attack, Gachagua said he had warned last year about what he described as a growing security threat posed by “illegal foreign Jubaland forces” allegedly occupying parts of Mandera.

“Last year, I warned about the serious security threat posed by the presence of illegal foreign Jubaland forces in the territory of the Republic of Kenya,” Gachagua said, while demanding their immediate removal.

His remarks came after gunmen attacked a passenger vehicle along the Mandera Arabia road, killing at least six people and leaving several others injured. Authorities described the attackers as suspected militants, with investigations still ongoing into the exact group responsible.

Gachagua argued that Kenya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were being compromised, accusing unnamed individuals of prioritizing political and business interests over national security.

The controversy surrounding Jubaland forces in Mandera has been building for months. Reports first emerged in 2025 claiming armed fighters linked to Jubaland’s semi autonomous administration had crossed into Kenyan territory during escalating clashes with Somalia’s federal government in the Gedo region.

At the time, residents and local leaders in Mandera reportedly raised concerns over the movement of armed foreign fighters near border areas, with claims that some groups had temporarily established positions inside Kenyan territory. Kenyan authorities, however, previously denied that foreign troops had officially occupied Mandera, insisting investigations were ongoing.

The issue is deeply tied to the ongoing political and military crisis in Somalia involving the Jubaland administration led by Ahmed Madobe and Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu. Fighting between Jubaland forces and Somali federal troops has intensified since late 2024, especially in border regions close to Kenya.

Security experts warn that the instability has created opportunities for armed groups, including Al-Shabaab militants, to exploit porous borders and increasing tensions in the Horn of Africa. Mandera County has remained one of Kenya’s most vulnerable regions due to repeated attacks, cross border incursions, and long standing security challenges linked to Somalia’s conflict.

Gachagua’s statement is now likely to intensify political pressure on the government to explain the exact nature of foreign armed presence near the Kenya Somalia border and what measures are being taken to prevent further attacks.

As investigations into the Mandera killings continue, the debate is no longer just about one attack. It is increasingly becoming a wider national conversation about border security, foreign armed groups, and whether Kenya is losing control of sensitive frontier regions.