Tension and fear have gripped Mandera as stray bullets, rockets, and other live ordnance from Somalia continue to land on Kenyan soil, putting lives and property at serious risk. Residents are struggling to go about their daily lives, with families, children, and businesses living under constant threat.

Mandera Senator Ali Roba voiced his concerns over the recurring attacks. “Enough! Mandera Town is under constant threat from Somalia’s endless wars. Stray bullets, rockets & live ordnance are hitting Kenyan soil, endangering lives & destroying property,” he said on social media.

Roba stressed that the incidents are not random but a direct result of ongoing conflicts across the border. “Families live in fear. Children cannot play outside. Businesses shut early. Entire neighbourhoods brace for the next stray bullet or explosion. This is no way for Kenyan citizens to live,” he added.

The senator called on the Kenyan government to act swiftly and assertively. “Kenya’s duty is clear, protect lives and property in Mandera at all costs. Silence is not an option.

Action is overdue. Our Government must immediately warn Mogadishu and Jubaland state that this is unacceptable, our people’s lives must be protected and urgent action is required,” Roba said.

Meanwhile, residents in Dollo and Bulla Hawa in Somalia’s Gedo region are also living in fear, caught in the midst of political and military tensions. Some families in Mandera have fled their homes, becoming internally displaced within Kenya, seeking safety with relatives or friends in less exposed areas.

The unrest stems from the “triangle war” involving the Somali Federal Government, the Jubaland administration, and regional forces. Bulla Hawa, a strategic town at the Somalia-Kenya-Ethiopia junction, was recently seized by Somali government forces, heightening the risk of escalation.

The Vice President of Jubaland issued a three-day ultimatum to militia leader Abdirashid Janan to vacate Bulla Hawa. Local elders mediated to grant a temporary extension until after Friday prayers, while community members declared: “After Friday prayers, we will fight you as patriots.”

The Somali Federal Government has accused Kenya of supporting Jubaland, straining diplomatic relations further. Reports of an Ethiopian military helicopter in Janan’s stronghold have intensified speculation of foreign involvement in the conflict.

As the ultimatum lapses, residents brace for possible escalation. Calls are growing for national and international intervention to safeguard civilians. Mandera remains a key hub for cross-border trade, but its proximity to conflict zones continues to expose residents to severe security threats.