The government has prioritized security in areas along the about 600 kilometer Kenya-Ethiopia border-stretch in Marsabit County in order to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Consequently, an impending serious security operation to flush out armed illegal aliens reported to be hiding in the stretch that straddles the border is in the works.
Marsabit County Commissioner James Kamau said during a security tour of four sub counties, Dukana, Marsabit North, Turbi and Sololo disclosed that the operation that could start anytime is also aimed at mopping up illicit weapons in wrong hands.
Kamau said that a cross-border security meeting consisting of law enforcement officials from five border sub-counties from Kenya and six from the Ethiopian’s Borana zone will be held soon to strategize on restoration and maintenance of security along the border areas.
He said that there were indications that militia elements from the neighbouring country could be hiding among communities located along the border
The County Commissioner who is also the chairman of the county intelligence and security committee cautioned locals not to offer refuge to unauthorized persons or groups.
Kamau maintained that unlawful possession of firearms would not be condoned adding that armed criminals said to belong to a rag-tag group on the other side of the porous border were the source of the insecurity problem along the border.
The week-long safety restorative exercise that took the county security team and community peace committees to Saru, Dukana, Folore, Elle-Dimtu, El-Bor and Sololo areas was facilitated by Alliance for Local communities in Hardship Areas (ALCHA) through the Mobility and Movement Cross Border Resilience project which is supported by the European Union (EU) saw residents okay to the operation so that the area could be pacified.
Other consortium members to the project which has four implementation corridors along the border covering Dukana, Moyale and Forole in Kenya and Magado and Moyale areas in Ethiopia include Life & Peace Institute, Pastoralist Concern (PC) and Mercy Corps.
Kamau added that the exercise would be conducted with a human face and urged the residents to cooperate to enable the government to stem the proliferation of illicit small arms, drugs and human trafficking.
“All roadblocks mounted on roads in the county must prove need for existence by addressing unlawful migration, drug and human trafficking as well as illicit trade” the county commander said adding that establishment of security sites in areas considered as prone would be initiated.
The shadowy activities are believed to be sources of money that the criminals use to finance their illegal operations.
At the same time, the county commissioner commended communities in Marsabit for embracing unity and peace and urged them to continue living in harmony.
During the security discourse meetings, requests by local residents for the provisional of national police reservists (NPR) to bolster their security against threats posed by the bandits dominated the discussions.
County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo assured the residents that their request would be considered and that recruitment would commence as soon as the number of required reservists is determined and other modalities finalized.
He said that the government values the role played by NPR in providing security as it complements the work of the national police service.
Kimaiyo added that optimum staffing at all stations and posts was being addressed adding that officers on pass leave had been ordered back to work.
By Sebastian Miriti
