Murkomen urges Turkana to fast-track land allocation for Todonyang immigration post
Murkomen said that on September 7, 2018, the Border Control and Operations Co-ordination Committee (BCOCC) sanctioned a survey that identified the need to open the Todonyang border control.
The Ministry of Interior has urged the County Government of Turkana to fast-track the allocation of land for the construction of an immigration post (Point of Entry-POE) at Todonyang, along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the plea at the Senate on Wednesday while responding to a question from Turkana Senator James Lomenen regarding progress on the establishment of the immigration post at Todonyang, and whether the government has allocated financial and human resources for its operationalisation.
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Senator Lomenen had sought clarification on the strategies the government has implemented to strengthen border surveillance and prevent cross-border security threats during the establishment of the immigration post.
In his response, Murkomen said that on September 7, 2018, the Border Control and Operations Co-ordination Committee (BCOCC) sanctioned a survey that identified the need to open the Todonyang border control.
"The findings/recommendations of this survey were forwarded to the National Security Advisory Committee for approval, which was granted to the Kenya Revenue Authority, which is the lead agency for land borders, through a letter dated May 23, 2022. On November 17, 2022, KRA requested the Governor of Turkana County for the allocation of 50 acres of land at Todonyang for the establishment of the POE," Murkomen told the Senate.
"Subsequently, in February 2023, a Multi-agency team comprising KRA and, Border Management Secretariat (BMS) held consultative engagements with the County Government of Turkana on the issue. The team jointly conducted a site visit at Todonyang. The County Government of Turkana is yet to allocate the requested land and should therefore be requested to fast-track the allocation of land for the construction of the POE."
On the government’s commitment to operationalising the Todonyang border point, Murkomen said that all agencies with specific mandates along the border are aligned with the plan and are awaiting the deployment of supporting infrastructure to host staff and equipment.
"Kenya has embraced a Coordinated Border Management approach whereby all security agencies with a specific mandate at the border are simultaneously posted at the POEs and work in a coordinated manner. Therefore, once operational, these agencies will be expected to deploy accordingly, and the security of the infrastructure, personnel, and Equipment will be guaranteed," he said.
He noted that in November last year, 286 newly recruited immigration officers graduated, creating the necessary staffing capacity within the Directorate of Immigration Services to support the opening of additional POEs.
Meanwhile, the State Department for Immigration and Citizenship Services is in the process of acquiring modern border management systems as part of the Integrated Border Management Systems (IBMS).
"Deployment of these will ensure more stringent ICT-based security systems along the borders. I wish to reassure Kenyans that the Government is focused on resolving the issues between the Kenyan and Ethiopian communities living along the border. Joint Peace meetings have been held by the elders of communities living along the border, and our Security agencies are vigilant to ensure peace prevails," he said.
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