Members of the public engaging during a weekly Mandera security dialogue to foster a good working
relationship between security agencies and local communities.
Members of the public engaging during a weekly Mandera security dialogue to foster a good working
relationship between security agencies and local communities.
Members of the public engaging during a weekly Mandera security dialogue to foster a good working
relationship between security agencies and local communities.
A civil society group in Mandera has launched a grassroots campaign to strengthen security and promote closer collaboration between residents and security agencies.
The border county has borne the brunt of Al-Shabaab attacks in recent years, leaving development efforts severely undermined. Education, healthcare, trade and infrastructure projects have all suffered as a result of the persistent insecurity.
According to Mohamed Sheikh, director of Action for Sustainable Change (AFOSC-Kenya), the initiative is designed to tackle long-standing security challenges while promoting peace and trust at the community level.
Funded by the Global Community Resilience Engagement Relief Fund (GCERF), the programme seeks to establish a collaborative platform between local communities and security forces.
“Our campaign is about strengthening community-based security because Mandera must be a secure and peaceful society,” Sheikh said.
“For the past two years, we have been holding monthly community dialogue forums to build resilience, cooperation and trust between the community and security agencies, and the results have been encouraging,” he added.
Sheikh noted that more regular forums are necessary if residents are to fully appreciate the importance of living in a secure environment. “We face many challenges linked to insecurity in Mandera, but through sustained dialogue, society will begin to understand the value of cooperating with security agencies,” he said.
Beyond security, the campaign also seeks to promote peace, cohesion and resilience among the county’s diverse clans. Mandera has a history of inter-communal clashes driven by competition for resources, land disputes, clan rivalries and extremist influence. Several violent incidents have been recorded in recent years.
Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner, Solomon Cheboton, stressed that security could only be achieved through joint efforts. “We are seeking cooperation with all stakeholders so that Mandera can be a peaceful and secure county. Security is vital for any meaningful development,” he said.
Cheboton identified education as the sector most affected by insecurity. “Our children cannot go to school, and residents cannot go about their daily activities. That is why collaboration is essential in securing our county,” he said, urging locals to report any suspicious individuals.
Community members also voiced their concerns. Ugas Rakiso linked rising insecurity to organised criminal gangs operating in major towns. “We are experiencing cases of carjacking by local gangs, even though blame is often directed at Al-Shabaab. Some residents hijack vehicles and sell them to militias,” he said, adding that government vehicle drivers should receive better security training.
Ms Alphone Dahir, a resident of Mandera town, underscored the importance of community sensitisation. “People need to understand their role in peace and security building. Ignorance has been a major factor fuelling insecurity,” she said.
Dahir also stressed that trust-building was crucial. “The government must ensure that all stakeholders feel valued so that information sharing becomes easier. Those who provide intelligence should be well protected by security agencies,” she added.
