Kenya moves to secure borders

• Shootout with Sudan’s militia prompts action by authorities

Kenya has taken a step to secure her borders, three weeks after a security threat on the Sudan border led to an exchange of fire with militiamen.

Nation has established that an inter-ministerial team made the decision to secure the borders days after reports of encroachment on Kenyan territory in Nadapal, Turkana.

There have been reports that some of the country’s boundaries had been interfered with and beacons moved.

Officers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army are said to have a camp seven kilometres into Kenyan territory

And Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers are occupying parts of Kenya — on Migingo Island and on the Kenya/Uganda border in Turkana area.

The security forces have already established camps in Nadapal and other areas on the Kenya/Uganda and Kenya/Somalia borders to ensure that no part of the country is occupied by foreigners.

The decision comes in the wake of reports that the AP had set up a border patrol unit. The unit will be equipped with helicopters, boats, high frequency communication and patrol vehicles.

“We have, unfortunately, been ignoring to secure our borders and we have paid the price for that. However, it has been decided that all borders should be secured to avoid incidents like the Nadapal one,” said a senior Internal Security ministry official who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter.

The government, which deployed the Administration Police’s Rural Border Patrol Unit, the General Service Unit and the military, wants to secure border points at all actual boundaries.

A Kenyan technical team comprising officers from Immigration, Customs and Lands departments has already visited the border area to prepare for the establishment of their offices on the Kenyan side.

Kenya has been conducting all its immigration and customs transactions in Lokichoggio, 25 kilometres inland.

“Initially, they had crossed 25 kilometres into Kenya but after ministerial meetings, they were asked to pull back although they are still in Kenyan territory,” a senior security official told Nation.

The government is also working on a project to fit all livestock with micro chips through which the animals will be tracked, to prevent cattle rustling.