Kenyan team in Ethiopia for border talks
More than 60 people have been killed in the last two months in attacks pitting Kenyan and Ethiopian fishermen and pastoralists
What you need to know:
- Surveyors from two countries seeking to resolve dispute over Lake Turkana delta boundary
Kenyan surveyors are in Ethiopia to resolve a border dispute between the two countries.
Survey director Ephantus Murage is holding talks with his Ethiopian counterpart in Addis Ababa on how to resolve the boundary row at Lake Turkana delta.
“We expect the demarcation to begin before the end of this month,” said Rift Valley provincial commissioner Osman Warfa.
He said beacons would be erected in the lake to resolve the dispute once and for all.
The PC was with a team of surveyors and security officials to Lokitaung’, Turkana County, last month in readiness for the demarcation.
“This will be done jointly with surveyors from the two countries,” said Mr Warfa.
Protracted rivalry
Protracted rivalry between Turkanas and Merriles from Ethiopia has interrupted commercial fishing in Lake Turkana.
Fishmongers have moved out of Lake Turkana following attacks by raiders from the two communities.
“A clear border and beefing up of security will boost business in the two countries,” said Mr Ewoi Akuam, a local fishmonger.
The two countries’ administrators and security officials are working out the methodology of stemming hostilities between the Turkana and Ethiopia’s Merrile and Nyangatom communities.
“The talks are aimed at resolving cross border conflict between the three communities,” said Mr Warfa.
Additional police officers are in Todonyang following renewed conflicts between the Turkana and the Ethiopian communities.
More than 60 people have been killed in the last two months in attacks pitting Kenyan and Ethiopian fishermen and pastoralists.
Search of pasture
“General Service Unit, regular and Administration Police officers are in the area to restore peace,” said the PC.
Merrile herdsmen have encroached on Kenyan territory in search of pasture, sparking a dispute with Turkana pastoralists.
But the dispute is set to end when the border is demarcated and a peace deal between the feuding communities is agreed.
The latest attack by the Ethiopians on Turkanas was last week when 14 Kenyans were shot dead.
