Former Chief Justice David Maraga has raised alarm over the presence of Somali Jubaland forces in Mandera County, warning that the deployment amounts to a breach of Kenya’s sovereignty.
Maraga, a respected figure in Kenya’s legal and political landscape, said the reports posed both constitutional and security concerns. He called on President William Ruto to order an immediate withdrawal of the troops.
“The protection of our borders is a fundamental duty imposed on the President and all state organs by the Constitution,” Mr Maraga said in a statement on Tuesday.
He urged Parliament to summon the head of state for answers, demanding clarity on how the foreign forces entered Kenyan territory and under what legal authority they were permitted to operate.
Mandera, which lies along Kenya’s porous border with Somalia, has long been a flashpoint for insecurity. The incursion by Jubaland forces, analysts say, could further strain relations between Nairobi and Mogadishu while heightening fears among residents already living under the shadow of extremist violence.
Citing Article 238 of the Constitution, Maraga stressed that the central purpose of national security is to protect sovereignty and ensure the safety of citizens. He warned that tolerating foreign troops inside Kenya could set “a dangerous precedent,” weakening public confidence in the government’s ability to safeguard the country.
Officials in Nairobi have not yet responded to Maraga’s remarks. Somalia’s Jubaland administration has also remained silent.
For many in Mandera, however, the questions are immediate and personal: Who controls the border — and who guarantees their safety?
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