50 at KDF camp await evacuation

Non-Muslim civil servants camp at the Mandera airstrip as they demanded to be evacuated in the wake of the terror attack. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• They had asked the government to evacuate them using aircraft because poor roads had made it easy for Al-Shabaab militants to attack vehicles.
• Mr Felix Kagwe, a representative of the group, told the Nation at least eight had left the county in a police plane that had brought in senior police officers.
• Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua last week pleaded with non-locals not to leave Mandera and promised adequate security.

More than 50 people at a military camp in Mandera are still awaiting government evacuation.

Most non-local workers sought refuge at the Kenya Defence Forces base following last week’s attack on a Nairobi-bound bus in which 28 were killed.

They had asked the government to evacuate them using aircraft because poor roads had made it easy for Al-Shabaab militants to attack vehicles.

Mr Felix Kagwe, a representative of the group, told the Nation at least eight had left the county in a police plane that had brought in senior police officers.

“We are 50 inside here, some have gone to town to assess the situation before we decide if we can travel to Nairobi by road,” said Mr Kagwe.

POLICE ESCORT

He said even though the group is provided with food and water, they lack beddings. “We are forced to sleep on the floor but we thank the soldiers for food, water and security,” said Mr Kagwe.

Mr Kagwe said some of them were considering using roads as long as they leave Mandera. “Since the buses are given police escort, we feel we can still use the road now that the government has refused to airlift us to Nairobi.”

Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua last week pleaded with non-locals not to leave Mandera and promised adequate security.

Governor Ali Roba said a mass exodus would ground the county as some of those planning to leave are providers of essential services, including doctors.