Kenya Head Stays in Border Area to Show It's Safe.
President William Ruto spent three nights near Kenya's border with Somalia this week. He slept in Mandera on Tuesday, Wajir on Wednesday, and Garissa on Thursday.
Few leaders come to these towns. Bad men from the group Al Shabaab often make trouble here. Yet Ruto came right after they took five local chiefs.
Ruto said the bad men tried to scare him away. "These madmen thought they could stop me from coming here," he said in Mandera. He stayed anyway.
"I will sleep here. I might even stay longer," Ruto told the people. He said Mandera belongs to Kenya. He promised to make it as safe as other parts of the land.
Many police came with Ruto. Police chief Gilbert Masengeli watched over the guards, and army men walked through the towns to keep everyone safe.
The best guards came with the president. They came from special police groups trained to work near borders. All these guards worked together to protect him.
Ruto met with local leaders at night after each day's work. His time there meant much to people who live far from Kenya's big towns, as past presidents did not come here often.
The president checked on building works and started new ones during his four days there. His trip showed he wants all of Kenya to grow, even the parts near Somalia.
President William Ruto spent three nights near Kenya's border with Somalia this week. He slept in Mandera on Tuesday, Wajir on Wednesday, and Garissa on Thursday.
Few leaders come to these towns. Bad men from the group Al Shabaab often make trouble here. Yet Ruto came right after they took five local chiefs.
Ruto said the bad men tried to scare him away. "These madmen thought they could stop me from coming here," he said in Mandera. He stayed anyway.
"I will sleep here. I might even stay longer," Ruto told the people. He said Mandera belongs to Kenya. He promised to make it as safe as other parts of the land.
Many police came with Ruto. Police chief Gilbert Masengeli watched over the guards, and army men walked through the towns to keep everyone safe.
The best guards came with the president. They came from special police groups trained to work near borders. All these guards worked together to protect him.
Ruto met with local leaders at night after each day's work. His time there meant much to people who live far from Kenya's big towns, as past presidents did not come here often.
The president checked on building works and started new ones during his four days there. His trip showed he wants all of Kenya to grow, even the parts near Somalia.
