State asked to secure Kenya’s borders

The frequent deadly incursions into Kenya’s territory by armed forces and militias from neighbouring countries is the stuff over which nations elsewhere in the world have fought wars.

But the passivity of the government in the face of these invasions have left most Kenyans asking how much more humiliation a country reputed to have the best equipped military in the region can take.

From unruly al-Shabaab militants to cocky Ethiopian rebel fighters and Uganda’s bully army, all seem to be enjoying poking the eye of this East Africa’s gentle giant.

News that Prime Minister Raila Odinga was turned away from a Turkana village because of fear of being attacked by armed Merille warriors from Ethiopia was received with dismay at home.

The boundary beacons have been destroyed. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are said to have agreed on a joint task force to solve the issue while attending the inauguration of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose army recently helped itself to one of Kenya’s islands in Lake Victoria, Ugingo. And the Migingo issue is yet to be resolved.

Manning roadblocks

This was the second time high ranking Kenyan officials were being prevented by foreigners from touring parts of the country.

Last year, Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang was prevented from opening an immigration office at Nadapal on the Kenyan-Sudan border by Sudan People Liberation Army soldiers who were manning roadblocks inside Kenyan territory.

Kenya did nothing. Instead the immigration office was set up 12 kilometres from the border at Kibes where SPLA used to have its camp during its fight with the Khartoum government.

Mr Kajwang was accompanied by Internal Security minister George Saitoti. Security analyst Capt (rtd) Simiyu Werunga said people are joking that soon Uganda will extend its territory to Kisumu.

“Even after that who knows if the government will react?” he asked. The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations Aden Keynan said:

“Our sovereignty is pegged on our internationally recognised borders and the sanctity of these borders should be respected and guarded at all times.”

Capt Werunga blamed the failure by the security forces to protect Kenya’s borders on “defective defence policy”.

“Our defence policy is non-offensive but rather defensive. And so once in a while the military gets in to flush elements who have infiltrated in to the country, but even then, they cannot pursue them beyond the border,” he said.