Defence CS Duale urges Northern Kenya to unite against Al-Shabaab threats
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on leaders and residents across Kenya’s northern counties to form a united front against renewed threats from the Al-Shabaab militant group, warning that fighters fleeing pressure in Somalia are seeking to exploit porous borders. Speaking in Nairobi, Mr Duale urged communities in the five arid and semi-arid counties and parts of the Coast to deepen cooperation with security agencies, noting that recent hit-and-run attacks in northern counties and Lamu have cost lives and disrupted livelihoods. He reiterated that the national government will not tolerate terrorism and pledged that the security apparatus will act decisively to safeguard citizens.
The CS said Al-Shabaab operatives, squeezed by Somali government operations and international partners, are attempting to infiltrate Kenya and destabilise border communities. Duale stressed the importance of local intelligence and community vigilance, urging clan leaders, chiefs and county officials to work with the police and military to block infiltration routes. He also addressed the planned withdrawal of African Union-mandated forces from Somalia, noting that Kenyan contingents serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) are scheduled to formally exit by December 2024 as Somali security institutions assume greater responsibility. Duale described the drawdown as a transition rather than abandonment, pointing to handovers already under way — including the transfer of some forward operating bases in Kismayo to Somali forces — and argued that the move underscores the need for strengthened border management at home.
Reactions from security analysts and local leaders have been mixed: while many welcome the call for community-led vigilance, others warn that the ATMIS drawdown could create temporary security gaps that militants may seek to exploit. County officials in affected areas have promised tighter collaboration with national forces, and elders have been tasked to mediate tensions and share intelligence. Humanitarian and development groups, however, say authorities must pair security measures with socio-economic interventions to deny militants local support. As the government rolls out heightened patrols and surveillance, the coming months will test whether combined community action, cross-border cooperation and a calibrated security response can prevent a resurgence of attacks and protect fragile border communities.