Gunmen suspected of belonging to the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group kidnapped 5 authorities officers in northeast Kenya on Monday as they had been on their approach to work, native leaders had been quoted on Monday as saying.
The incident occurred in Mandera county when the 5 village chiefs, government-appointed native officers, had been heading to the city of Elwak, Citizen TV stated, quoting North Jap Regional Commissioner John Otieno.
Nation newspaper reported the identical incident, quoting Mandera South police commander Julius Njeru. Each blamed al Shabaab.
Police spokesperson Michael Nyaga confirmed the incident and stated the suspects had been being pursued, however not specify who authorities believed had been accountable.
Al Shabaab has been combating for years in Somalia to topple the central authorities and set up its personal rule based mostly on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia regulation.
It has additionally carried out assaults in neighbouring Kenya as a part of efforts to press Kenya to withdraw troops from Somalia, the place they’re a part of a world peacekeeping power defending the central authorities.
