MACHAKOS, Kenya – Questions are mounting over Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya’s silence on the alleged presence of Jubaland forces inside Mandera County.
In recent days, there have been claims that a foreign military entity linked to the Jubaland militia is allegedly occupying parts of Kenyan land and infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, a section of leaders allied to the United Opposition movement has raised concern over the continued silence of President William Ruto and his Defence CS Tuya over the matter.
On Sunday, September 7, 2025, the leaders, who included party leaders, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Patriotic Front), Eugene Wamalwa (Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya), Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Makueni County Women Representative Rose Museo, and Wakili Ndegwa Njiru, attended a Sunday mass at AIC Kasina in Mlolongo.
Kalonzo, who shot the first salvo, strongly criticised President Ruto’s government over the Mandera occupation.
“When it comes to the protection of sovereignty, the responsibility to guard those borders is not an Interior Ministry responsibility. When you have a foreign military occupation, it is not for the police to engage them. Therefore, the concerned CS (Defence), if she has any credentials, should have addressed this issue,” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo took issue with CS Tuya for choosing to remain silent on the matter.
“Even the president himself is silent, while Mandera residents continue pleading to the government to intervene in the matter. You can’t wish this away. It is unconstitutional and unethical to allow people to cross our borders with arms,” Kalonzo further said.
Why Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua should be respected
Eugene observed that what is happening in Mandera County is not something that should be taken lightly by the national government.
“The responsibility of a country’s security lies squarely with the national government. Kalonzo served as the 10th vice president of Kenya. Rigathi Gachagua served as the second deputy president of Kenya under the 2010 Kenya Constitution,” Eugene said.
According to Eugene, the duo of Kalonzo and Gachagua has held the second-highest office in the land.
“They have sat on the Security Council, which is responsible for the security of this country. I, Eugene I have been a member of the Security Council while serving as the Defence Cabinet Secretary. Our brother Matiang’i, who is part of this team, when he speaks, he has served as Interior CS, the docket currently under Kipchumba Murkomen,” explained Eugene.
Eugene also said that Justin Muturi, another principal of the United Opposition movement, also sat on the Security Council when he served as the country’s Attorney General.
How did Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif react to the occupation
Already, Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif has maintained that as regional leaders, they will not sit back and allow their territory to be turned into a battlefield for the neighbouring Somalia.
“We have no interest in Somalia. The only interest we have in Somalia is peace. Otherwise, we have no interest in involving ourselves in their internal affairs,” the governor said recently.
During the church service, Kalonzo recalled how he was part of a team that was appointed to work for peace in Somalia.
“The majority of the communities in Somalia are Muslims, but they belong to subclans. Please, don’t tell Kenyans that you don’t know what is happening. These militias enter Kenya in the disguise of being refugees, and then the first thing they need to do is surrender their firearms, but that is not happening,” said the former vice president.
The WPF leader also recounted how, in 1991, while in Parliament, former Somali president Mohamed Siad Barre was sent away from Mogadishu and forced into exile in Nigeria.
“He came through our border. Then, President Daniel Moi (now deceased) announced that he had surrendered, and so we booked him at the Safari Park Hotel before he proceeded with his journey. His military officers were forced to surrender their firearms,” Kalonzo narrated.
Why Eugene Wamalwa wants the government to listen to the opposition
Eugene further pleaded with the ruling Kenya Kwanza government to consider listening to the opposition, arguing that they are knowledgeable about the happenings in the country.
“So, when we speak, we know what we are talking about. We should not be wished away. Those dockets you are occupying in the executive, we have been there before, and we know what it means when it touches on the security of the people of Mandera County and the people of Kenya,” Eugene added.
The DAP-K leader asked CS Murkomen to keep off the matter, arguing that it doesn’t fall in his docket.
“And we don’t want to hear from Murkomen, we want to hear from the Defence CS. Does this country have a CS for Defence or not? This issue touches the Commander-in-Chief of the Keya Defence Forces. Why is he quiet on this issue?” Eugene posed.
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