Ethnic Wolaita Community in Kenya’s county of Mandera Faces Illegal Mass Expulsion Ultimatum and Economic Sabotage
MANDERA, KENYA – A grave humanitarian crisis is reaching a breaking point in Kenya’s northeastern border town of Mandera. The ethnic Wolaita community, composed of individuals who have fled Ethiopia due to a variety of complex challenges, is now facing a coordinated campaign of forced displacement, ethnic profiling, and systemic economic exploitation.
The “Final Warning” Video
The crisis escalated on January 19, 2026, when Kulan Post published a video featuring an official announcement from a coalition of local Somali elders, religious scholars, and representatives claiming the backing of both County and National government officials.
In the video, translated by WT Media, a spokesperson issues a chilling ultimatum: “It has been formally agreed that the people known as the Wolaita must leave. By February, 5/2026, they must be out from among us. If they are seen after that date, action will be taken.”
The decree explicitly warns local residents against hosting the community, labeling the Wolayta a “threat” to local Islamic religion, culture, and the economy. The speaker describes the move as a “final warning” to clear the town of the community’s presence.
Fleeing Crisis, Finding Persecution
While the specific reasons for each individual’s flight from Ethiopia vary ranging from political instability and ethnic tensions to economic hardship the community sought sanctuary in Mandera. Instead of safety, they have encountered a “Two-Front War”: the trauma of displacement followed by systemic hostility in their place of refuge.
WT Media Exclusive: The Truth Behind the Ultimatum
In exclusive interviews with WT Media, members of the Wolaita community speaking on condition of anonymity for their safety have exposed the true motive behind the expulsion: economic envy and professional diligence.
“The claim that we are a threat to religion is a lie,” a father who has lived in Mandera for 14 years told WT Media. “Native Kenyan Christians live here without trouble. We are being targeted because our community is hardworking. Many of us who started as laborers now own hotels, retail shops, and Boda Boda businesses. They want to seize what we have built.”
A Campaign of Exploitation
The testimonies gathered by WT Media reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse:
- Wage Theft: Many Wolayta laborers report that local employers have withheld up to five months of wages. There are fears the expulsion order is being used as a tool to chase workers away before they can collect their hard-earned pay.
- Physical and Social Abuse: A female resident reported that physical violence and social exclusion have become daily occurrences. “They want to make us invisible, but we are the ones doing the work that keeps this town running,” she stated.
- Family Separation: With many children born and raised in Mandera, parents are in agony. “My 12-year-old son only knows this town. Where do they expect us to go?” asked one father.
- Indiscriminate Profiling: While the order specifically targets the “Wolaita,” other Ethiopian migrants are also being swept up in arbitrary arrests and the looting of businesses.
Legal and Humanitarian Emergency
As a journalist in exile, Natnael Gecho the editor of WT Media highlights that this expulsion order is a flagrant violation of the Kenyan Refugee Act 2021 and the international principle of non-refoulement.
“This is not a security measure; it is an illegal act of communal intimidation by a section of the Somali majority in Mandera,” the report notes. Forced removal violates the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees human dignity for all residents, regardless of their status.
Call to Action
WT Media urgently calls upon the Kenyan Ministry of Interior, the UNHCR, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to:
- Halt the Expulsion: Immediately intervene to stop the implementation of the January 5th deadline.
- Protect Hard-Earned Assets: Ensure that Wolayta laborers are paid their withheld wages and that their businesses are protected from looting.
- Ensure Safety: Deploy neutral security forces to Mandera to protect the Wolaita community from mob violence or arbitrary removal.
Conclusion
The situation in Mandera is no longer just a local dispute; it is a test of Kenya’s commitment to international human rights and the rule of law. While the Wolaita community continues to contribute to the region’s economy through tireless labor and entrepreneurship, they are being met with state-sanctioned hostility and communal threats. If the Kenyan government and international humanitarian agencies fail to intervene, the “final warning” issued in Mandera may soon transform into a humanitarian catastrophe that stains the region for years to come. The world is watching, and for the families hiding in the shadows of Mandera, time is running out.
News Source – WT Media
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