The government has moved to quell growing anxiety over alleged foreign military activity in Mandera County, labeling the ongoing reports as “speculation” and urging residents to remain calm as official investigations are underway.

The response came from Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga during an interview on Radio 47’s Breakfast 47 show hosted by Emmanuel Mwashumbe and Alex Mwakideu.

Chidzuga called for calm and advised Kenyans to disregard alarming information from political figures she accused of inciting unrest.

“Kenyans should ignore rumors about foreign troops occupying parts of Mandera, as some politicians thrive on stirring unrest where there is none,” stated Chidzuga. “The government has launched an investigation, and the relevant Cabinet Secretary will provide an official update when the time is right.”

The government’s statement is a direct rebuttal to claims made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking at a church service in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado, Gachagua alleged that parts of Mandera had been occupied by foreign forces, resulting in the deaths of five people and the displacement of numerous residents.

He further accused the current administration of remaining silent in the face of what he termed a threat to the nation’s territorial integrity and called on President William Ruto to authorize a military operation to remove the alleged invaders.

The government’s position is to first complete its verification process before addressing the matter publicly, aiming to prevent panic and the spread of unverified information.

Written by Patrick Wachira.