Marsabit leaders decry insecurity at the border with Ethiopia, call for action

The insecurity incidents around the borders of Ethiopia and Kenya on Tuesday made leaders from Marsabit County raise alarm over a situation they described as alarming, and in need of urgent action by the government.

The leaders while addressing the press in Nairobi were led by Marsabit Governor Ali Mohamud Mohamed said they are perturbed by the insecurity incidents that have resulted in unabated and continuous killings, abductions and destructions of properties along the borders of the two countries.

The leaders who comprised Senator Mohamed Chute, Woman Representative Naomi Waqo, and North Horr MP Wario Adhe listed incidents of violence that have resulted in panic and uncertainty in the area.

"On August 9, 2024, at Golole on the border of Kenya and Ethiopia, a bulldozer belonging to Ethiopia was burnt down by some unknown militia. Yesterday, two missionaries of Korean origin were abducted and held incommunicado to date," said the governor.

The governor went on to narrate that on the night of 12th of August 2024, along the Kenya- Ethiopia Border at Elledimtu along Forolle Turbi Road, several unknown assailants attacked a vehicle that was transporting food items from Nairobi to Dukana. The vehicle was carrying 10 passengers at the time of the attack.

"Eight out of the ten passengers aboard the vehicle were shot dead and their bodies alongside the motor vehicle itself were burnt. One passenger was severely injured and another one, a minor escaped unhurt," he explained.

The leaders who vehemently condemned the heinous acts of violence urged the National Government through the state department of interior, to take up the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

"We reiterate that just like other Kenyans residing elsewhere, the residents living along the border deserve to live in peace and harmony. We appeal to the residents living along the border to remain peaceful as the government takes up these security concerns," said Senator Chute.

Other leaders such as MPs Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Guyo Waqo (Moyale) and Dido Ali Raso (Saku), wondered why it is taking the government long to reign on the insecurity that is now affecting the livelihoods of Kenyans living around the borders of the two countries.

The plea of the leaders comes barely a fortnight after two grenades were found moments when an unknown number of assailants said to have sneaked from neighbouring Ethiopia ambushed and fired at a multiagency security team manning the border.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) ordnance handling experts detonated two explosives that were recovered within the Sessi border point in Moyale, Marsabit County.

The criminals on a motorcycle left three officers and a civilian seriously injured, according to a police report made at Moyale Police Station.

The four including two police constables sustained injuries on their hands, legs and stomach and are nursing gunshot wounds at Moyale Sub-County Hospital.