The Somali terror group has kidnapped 2 Kenyan nationals from Elkambere location and Hulugho respectively in North Eastern province area. The group has not claimed the reason of the kidnapping. The group has increased kidnapping operations in North Eastern Kenya. The terror group continues to hunt down persons it believes are spying on its activities, location of bases, and movement.
The 2 kidnappings add to several others including the kidnapping of an Italian aid worker in Malindi in Kilifi county and the kidnapping of 2 Cuban doctors in Mandera further north of the country. Civilians have been harassed and temporarily detained by the group operatives in the frontier region. The group attempted to kidnap 8 non-Muslim construction workers in El-Wak area in NEP.
The group’s grip in local community sociopolitical fabric has been significantly weakened by government. The group no-longer enjoys grassroots support. More youths and clan elders are aligned to government socioeconomic and counter-extremism programs which are significantly changing lives and the socioeconomics of the region.
