The Jukwaa la Usalama forum held in El Wak, Mandera County, has lauded the significant strides made in curbing cross-border threats, attributing the success to the collaborative efforts of multi-agency security teams and local communities.
The high-level meeting, led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing security and fostering development in the strategic border town.
Speaking at the forum, CS Murkomen highlighted El Wak’s importance as a hub for pastoralism and trade, noting its potential for growth due to its proximity to Somalia and Ethiopia.
“El Wak is an important centre for pastoralism and trade for people living in the southern part of Mandera County. It has a lot of potential for growth due to its strategic location near the border,” he said.
He credited the containment of cross-border threats to the “efforts of the multi-agency security team on the ground and collaboration with members of the public.”
The forum, attended by Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif, Mandera South MP Abdul Haro, MCAs, and senior security officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director-DCI Mohamed Amin, outlined several initiatives to bolster security and development.
Murkomen announced plans to operationalise additional administrative units in Mandera County to bring services closer to residents and strengthen security.
“From our Jukwaa la Usalama deliberations in El Wak today, we agreed to operationalise additional administrative units in the county to take services closer to Wananchi and bolster security,” he stated.
The government is also committed to addressing critical infrastructure challenges.
Murkomen revealed plans to improve housing conditions and expand office space for security personnel and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs).
Additionally, efforts are underway to provide a lasting solution to water shortages in security installations across the region.
“We are working on a lasting solution to address the water shortage in our security installations in the region,” he affirmed.
A key focus of the discussions was the recruitment and training of more National Police Reservists (NPRs) to enhance security in border areas. Murkomen noted,
“The participants were unanimous that we need to enlist and train more NPRs to strengthen security. There’s an ongoing process to revamp the role and welfare of NPRs. Once complete, we will give priority to border counties in recruitment.”
The 750km Isiolo-Mandera highway, which passes through El Wak, was highlighted as a game-changer for the region. Murkomen emphasised that the highway “will open up the area for investments, trade, and improve security,” positioning El Wak as a key economic and security hub.