UDM Leader Ali Roba Demands Answers on Missing Wajir MCA as Protests Escalate

Mandera Senator and United Democratic Movement (UDM) party leader Ali Roba has intensified calls for accountability over the mysterious disappearance of Wajir MCA Yussuf Hussein Ahmed, who has been missing since September 13, 2024. Speaking at the party's headquarters, Roba condemned the abduction, describing it as a violation of justice and security.

Roba urged key security agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), to reveal the MCA’s whereabouts or present him in court if implicated in any wrongdoing. “We demand that the respective authorities immediately account for his disappearance. If there are allegations against him, let him face them through the proper legal channels,” Roba said.

Before his disappearance, reports suggested that Ahmed had been summoned by the Wajir County Security and Intelligence Committee (CSIC) on August 6 for discussions on security matters. However, Kwale County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo, who allegedly signed the summons, denied issuing such a request, raising further doubts about the circumstances leading to the abduction.

On October 20, a body suspected to be Ahmed’s was recovered from Lake Yahud. Initial speculation pointed to the missing MCA, but subsequent DNA tests by government and independent pathologists confirmed it was not his, leaving his fate unknown.

The lack of progress in the case has sparked widespread protests in Wajir, where residents have accused security agencies of negligence and demanded justice. Demonstrators have also voiced frustration over the perceived failure of authorities to protect public officials like Ahmed.

Despite mounting pressure, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced on November 7 that no arrests had been made, adding to public frustration and calls for expedited investigations.

Roba, who was joined by new party members during the briefing, reiterated UDM’s commitment to pursuing justice for Ahmed and his family. "We will not rest until the truth is uncovered. The abduction of an elected leader is a grave matter that undermines democracy and public trust in security institutions," he said.