Ruto, CS Tuya under fire as leaders demand action on Jubaland troops reported inside Mandera

President William Ruto and Defense Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya are facing mounting criticism over their silence as reports emerge that Jubaland forces have crossed into Mandera, displacing residents and disrupting normal life.

Local leaders warn that the continued presence of heavily armed foreign troops threatens Kenya’s sovereignty and endangers border communities.

Former Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa on Sunday condemned what he termed Tuya’s “deafening silence,” insisting she should publicly address the situation.

“It is a violation of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. I am surprised that up to now, the Defence CS has not said anything, and we have not heard anything from the Kenya Defense Forces. Are they allowing Jubaland forces to operate within Kenyan territory?” Wamalwa asked.

He also demanded clarity on whether the operations had the blessing of President Ruto, stressing that Kenyans along the border live in fear, with some abandoning their farms and withdrawing children from school.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua echoed Wamalwa’s remarks, urging President Ruto to immediately deploy the Kenya Defense Forces to flush out the troops.

“And it cannot be that foreign forces are in our land and the government is quiet. The commander-in-chief is quiet. We are asking the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defense Forces to immediately order an operation to flush out foreign troops from our land. This is our country. We have a responsibility to protect our territorial integrity,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua further claimed that Jubaland forces had occupied more than half of Mandera town, killing five people, injuring seven others, and displacing dozens, including schoolchildren.

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has also called for the immediate withdrawal of the troops, accusing them of camping at BP1 Primary School and forcing its closure at a time when learners were preparing for national exams.