
Gunmen suspected to belong to the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group abducted five Kenyan government officials in northeast of the country on Monday morning as they were on their way to work, local media reported.
The incident happened in Mandera County when the five chiefs were heading to the town of Elwak, Citizen TV said, citing North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno.
Police and witnesses said the group was travelling in a car to Elwak when they were abducted. Mandera South police commander Julius Njeru confirmed the incident and said the administrators were travelling from Wargadud to Elwak town for duty.
The incident comes just days before President William Ruto to tour the northern region this week and this has prompted security operations. The president is scheduled to, among other things, hold a cabinet meeting in Garissa, according to State House officials.
The president will also visit Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa Counties in the period. Nation newspaper reported the same incident, quoting Mandera South police commander Julius Njeru.
Police spokesperson Michael Nyaga did not respond to a request for comment.
The al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab has been fighting for years in Somalia to topple the central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.
It has also carried out attacks in neighbouring Kenya as part of efforts to press Kenya to withdraw troops from Somalia, where they are part of an international peacekeeping force defending the central government.
- A Tell report