By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
May 15, 2026 - President William Ruto says insecurity and political instability in Somalia are the main reasons Kenya has yet to fully reopen its border with the neighbouring country despite growing calls for cross-border movement and trade.
In an interview with France 24 on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, Ruto attributed the continued closure of the border to the huge disagreement between the Federal Government and the states.
“Unfortunately, there was an escalation of war between the Somali National Army and Jubaland forces, which are right at the border of Kenya, even pushing some Somali army personnel into Kenya. This complicated the situation,” he said.
The Kenyan head of state added that his administration had to support the Somali National Army to pacify and reduce the conflict. However, he noted that the situation escalated and worsened as a result of the expiry of Parliament and the President’s term.
“This situation now, nobody knows where it’s going. We tried to broker an engagement between the states and the Somalia Federal Government and we have not been successful,” he said.
He said that together with Ethiopia and Djibouti, Kenya is still pushing to find solutions and until then, the Kenya-Somalia border will remain closed.
Residents in Northern Kenya who share a long and porous border with Somalia have in the recent past raised concerns over the continued closure of the Kenya-Somalia border.
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They claim the border is only closed on paper, while cartels continue to operate with smuggled goods flooding the Kenyan market as the government loses huge amounts of revenue.
The Kenya-Somalia border was officially closed in October 2011 during Kenya’s military operation, “Operation Linda Nchi,” following a series of Al-Shabaab attacks and kidnappings linked to militants operating from Somalia.
Speaking in Garissa last week, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said it was time to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border, confirming that the border is only closed on paper while there is a huge proliferation of goods.
His remarks followed appeals by a section of leaders from Garissa urging him to ensure the border was officially reopened.
“We must make a decision on why the border between Kenya and Somalia is closed, yet it is not really closed. It is only closed on paper. A lot of movement of goods goes through the border,” he said.
The vocal CS said reopening the border could create better revenue collection for the government and allow immigration authorities to process more people.