Police step up security in Kakuma after Westgate attack
Daadab refugee camp in Northern Kenya. Strict security measures have been put in place at the Kakuma refugee camp. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- Vetting of refugees being admitted
- Refugees at the camp will not be allowed to move out of the camp
- Kakuma refugee camp the second biggest in the country after Daadab
Strict security measures have been put in place at the Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County to avert the entry of Al-Shabaab militants and sympathisers to counter terrorism.
Among the measures include thorough vetting of refugees being admitted at the camp and restricted movements to other parts of the County.
“We are no longer accepting any refugee at the camp without referral letters from the United Nations High Commission of Refugees office or relevant government office acknowledging their refugee status,” said Jonathan Ngala, Turkana West police boss.
He disclosed that refugees at the camp will not be allowed to move out unless on compelling grounds like special medical attention.
“Those in search of treatment outside Kakuma hospital are required to have referral letters and none of them are allowed to engage in business activities outside the camp,” stated Mr Ngala.
Several refugees at the Kakuma camp have established businesses at Kakuma trading center and Lodwar town.
Kakuma refugee camp the second biggest in the country after Daadab is home to 72,000 refugees among them 45,000 Somalis, 15,000 South Sudan immigrants and the rest are from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi among other countries.
POROUS BORDER
“The close security monitoring at the refugee camp will be extended to social places to get rid of illegal immigrants and maintain law and order,” explained Mr Ngala.
He disclosed that several police road blocks have been erected along Lodwar-Lokichogio road, the gateway to South Sudan to check on immigrants out to capitalize on porous border points to enter into the country.
“Motorists are required to report suspicious passengers and carry out thorough checks on luggage to ensure that it does not contain dangerous objects like explosives,” appealed Mr Ngala.
The camp has more than 10 International humanitarian agencies ranging from United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to World Food Program (WFP) among others.
The impending police swoop has sparked tension among illegal Somali immigrants who have been living and operating businesses in parts of the North Rift region.
Some of them have been staying with Somalis of Kenyan origin where they have established businesses in major towns in the region.
