House team wants report on Migingo made public

PHOTO | FILE Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohammed addresses a press conference outside Office of the President in Nairobi on October 14, 2013.

What you need to know:

  • The Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations said it will summon Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed to shed light on the results of the survey conducted jointly by Kenya and Uganda. Both countries claim ownership to the island.
  • Committee chairman Ndung’u Gethenji said that his team will ask the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary to produce all information related to the ownership of the disputed islands.

A parliamentary committee has demanded release of a report on a survey carried out on the disputed Migingo Island.

The Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations said it will summon Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed to shed light on the results of the survey conducted jointly by Kenya and Uganda. Both countries claim ownership to the island.

Members of the House team made the demand as lobby group Africa Human Rights Bureau executive director Dan Alila urged Senate and the National Assembly to approve military action against Ugandan security forces occupying Migingo and Ugingo islands.

Mr Alila said in a petition to the parliamentary committee that the two islands are on Kenyan waters. “Suitable measures must be taken to protect citizens, defend Kenyas’ territorial integrity and sovereignty and private property,” he said in his petition.

In a meeting with the committee yesterday, the human rights activist said Ugandan security forces on both Migingo and Ugingo islands have been harassing Kenyans.

He wants Kenya to establish a permanent naval base on the island, claiming serious rights abuses were being committed. Mr Alila also alleged that Kenyans had been tortured, arbitrarily arrested and even raped for over 10 years now.

Committee chairman Ndung’u Gethenji said that his team will ask the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary to produce all information related to the ownership of the disputed islands.

He said in particular that the committee wanted results of the survey that was meant to determine the territorial boundaries in Lake Victoria.

Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said the Ugandan troops had practically taken over the island.

“The Ugandan government has militarised the borders. Its troops attack and loot from people in Bondo and disappear into the lake waters,” he said.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said that the government has a responsibility to secure its borders, while his Fafi counterpart Barre Shill demanded to know why the report had not been made public.

“The report may have been swept under the carpet… but as long as our people continue staying there and we continue to claim that the island as ours, we must address the issue,” Mr Shill said.