Speaking at Moi Stadium in Mandera County on Tuesday during his work tour, the President also fired a warning the al Shabaab militants after they bypassed security checkpoints and gained entrance into the country.
The President who visibly ignored the podium where other leaders including his Deputy Kithure Kindiki spoke, chose instead to address the crowd from the roof of a car during which he assured that security agencies had been given firm directives to ensure the safe return of the five abducted chiefs.
“Security of our country is very paramount as we are fighting with insurgents, criminals and all sorts of delinquents,” Ruto stated.
“We will deal with the terrorists and that is why I have come with the Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli that no matter what happens that issue must be promptly addressed,” he added.
Ruto cited that Al Shabaab chose to abduct the administrators because of the effort that Kenyan multiagency security teams had shown against them in the region.
“Because we have shown our might against them and because they wanted to spread fear in this area, they went and abducted our chiefs. I want to promise the people of Mandera that the chiefs will come back home,” Ruto stated
”They thought that by doing the abduction of the chiefs, they would scare me into not coming here today. I have come and I will spend the night here,” he added.
The chiefs from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole were abducted by militant gunmen on Monday while on duty.
The vehicle, which was ferrying them to Elwak, was hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South.
The chiefs were en route to a consultative meeting to plan for the President’s upcoming tour of the region.
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