Team wants ministers to explain insecurity

Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Relations Committee has invited four ministers and the director of Kenya’s intelligence service to explain security breaches over the last two weeks.

The ministers of Defence, Internal Security, East African Community Affairs, Foreign Affairs and the NSIS director will be tasked to explain the recent killings of Kenyans in Turkana by Ethiopian raiders and the takeover of Ugingo Island in Lake Victoria by Uganda.

Defence minister Yusuf Hajji, his Internal Security counterpart George Saitoti and NSIS Director Michael Gichangi, will also be asked about the bombs that have led to the deaths of five children in Ngong.

“We want to urge the Kenyan government to clearly protect our internationally recognised borders and also protect the lives and properties of those who live along them,” said chairman Adan Keynan.

“It is the responsibility of the government of Kenya to keep and protect the internationally recognised borders of Kenya,” he added.

Mr Keynan said the committee was “shocked and dismayed” at the massacre of at least 20 Kenyans from the Turkana community last week and said the government has not done enough to keep the borders safe.

Four boys died in Ngong on Sunday when an explosive device they were playing with went off, while their counterpart died at Kenyatta National Hospital on Monday.

Mr Keynan said the existence of the unexploded bombs outside the military’s training range in Ngong constitutes “some of the institutional issues that must be accounted for.”

He said the committee would enforce the recommendations it makes and continue to play its oversight role over the relevant ministries.

Nominated MP George Nyamweya said the committee takes it that those charged with the responsibility of investigating the incidents are playing their part.

The committee asked the government to ensure there is security in the affected area in the interim period.

The MPs were speaking Tuesday after a hurriedly convened meeting to discuss the recent incidents, where they made the decision to invite the ministers.

Ugingo Island is barely 50 metres from its more famous neighbour, Migingo, and Nyatike District Commissioner Allan Macharia has raised concerns over the activities of Ugandan soldiers there.

Migingo Island was taken over by Uganda about two years ago and the matter raised a furore in Parliament, with furious backbenchers condemning the move by Uganda.

The killings of the 20 Kenyans in Turkana was the subject of a high-level meeting chaired by President Kibaki last Monday, who said the government would move to secure its borders.

Kenya has also sent a protest note to the Ethiopian government over the attack by suspected Merille militia.