Kenyan court grants bail to two Borana elders detained over alleged OLA links

Tuesday May 26, 2026

Dabbasa Dambi and Gurracha Dambala

Addis Abeba – Two Borana elders from Kenya’s Marsabit County, who were detained two weeks ago on May 14, 2026, over suspected links to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), have been released on a property bail worth 14 million Kenyan Shillings (approximately 17.3 million Ethiopian Birr), the elders’ defense lawyer told Addis Standard.

The two allegedly abducted elders—Dabbasa Dambi, a former administrator of Gololle village, and Gurracha Dambala, a community elder and resident of Sololo—were released yesterday evening, May 25, 2026, according to their lawyer, Kana Gollicha.

It is to be recalled that Addis Standard reported weeks ago on widespread protests that erupted across northern Kenyan towns, including Marsabit, Saku, Sololo, and Moyale, following the abduction of the two elders. Protesters had blocked the main highway connecting Moyale to Nairobi.

Lawyer Kana Gollicha recalled that the two elders were abducted on May 09, 2026, and taken to Nairobi. When they appeared in court, terrorism charges were pressed against them based on allegations of having links with the OLA.

However, local residents maintain that the root cause of the issue stems from a border dispute. They state that the government decided to transfer land, which was previously under Marsabit jurisdiction, to Wajir County. Following this, the Wajir administration entered the Moyale border and began constructing various offices, including security outposts, in areas such as Basir and Xixu. The residents assert that the two elders were abducted as a result of the dispute arising from this encroachment.

Their defense lawyer, Kana Gollicha, explained that after Dabbasa Dambi (former Gololle village administrator) and Gurracha Dambala (community elder and resident of Sololo) were abducted, they were brought to court and charged with terrorism over alleged links to the OLA.

The lawyer recalled that although the court had ordered a 10-day remand until their second hearing, local residents continued their protests in the interim. Consequently, the construction of the security office projects launched under the name of the Wajir Administration within the Moyale border has been halted due to the dispute.

During their second hearing on May 22, 2026, the Kahawa Law Court, which was hearing the case, granted them bail. However, their release was slightly delayed because the court demanded a very high bond amount. They were eventually released yesterday evening, May 25, 2026, at around 8:00 PM.

Accordingly, the lawyer specified that Dabbasa Dambi was granted a property bail valued at 5 million Kenyan Shillings (approx. 6.2 million Birr), while Gurracha Dambala was granted a property bail valued at 9 million Kenyan Shillings (approx. 11.1 million Birr). In total, both elders were released on a combined property bond worth 14 million Kenyan Shillings (approx. 17.3 million Birr).

Furthermore, the defense lawyer, Kana Gollicha, confirmed that today, May 26, 2026, the Kenyan government has officially dropped the terrorism charges it had leveled against the elders.

Marsabit County has for years experienced recurring security concerns associated with inter-communal violence and allegations surrounding the movement of fighters linked to the Oromo Liberation Army.

In February 2025, Kenyan authorities launched a security operation dubbed “Ondoa Jangili” (“Remove the Outlaw”) targeting suspected OLA presence in Marsabit. In a statement issued on 03 February 2025, the Kenya National Police Service said the operation, conducted in Marsabit and Isiolo counties, was aimed at combating illegal activities including ethnic incitement, illicit arms trafficking, and human smuggling.

The OLA has repeatedly rejected accusations that its fighters operate inside Kenya. In previous statements, the group said it respects Kenya’s sovereignty and insisted that its operations are confined to Ethiopian territory.

The recent security developments also come after Ethiopia and Kenya signed a bilateral agreement in November 2024 to strengthen border security cooperation. Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) previously said the memorandum of understanding focused on intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to cross-border security threats.