Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab has ramped up kidnappings as a way of beefing up its pool of professionals and gathering intelligence.
As a result, professionals based in Mandera County are a worried lot. The most targeted include medics, teachers and security officers.
At least 11 people have been abducted in Mandera by suspected Shabaab militants in the past one year, according to security records.
“We have information that Al-Shabaab is interested in abducting medical officers and teachers to be used in areas under their control in Somalia,” a senior security officer in Mandera said anonymously since he is not allowed to speak for the police force.
According to the officer, Shabaab targets mostly non-locals, who are believed to be cooperative once under its control.
Mr Julius Mwania, a mechanic, is the latest victim of the kidnappings. He went missing a month ago.