THE SECURITY SITUATION IN TURKANA NORTH DISTRICT
Mr. Speaker, Sir
About three weeks ago, at least 20 Kenyans were killed by Merille militia from neighboring Ethiopia. This round of killings came after a fairly prolonged period of calm and peace in the area following the peace accord signed by the two communities in 2006 at Todonyang.
Mr. Speaker,
The prolonged period of relative calm notwithstanding, the recent attacks left our citizens feeling vulnerable and unprotected. The attacks raised questions about security at our borders.
In my statement this afternoon, I will outline the measures the Government is taking to address the unfortunate murders in Todonyang and to secure all our borders. These measures were deliberated and agreed on by Cabinet Committee on Security under the Chairmanship of H.E. President MwaiKibaki, the Commander-in-Chief.
Mr. Speaker,
At the outset, I make it clear that we accept that our primary responsibility as Government is to protect the life and property of citizens. In line with our constitution, we shall promote and guarantee the national security of Kenya. We shall protect our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against internal and external threats in line with the Constitution.
Mr. Speaker,
When I led the Ministerial delegation to Todonyangone week ago, I was shocked. In the Omo-Turkana delta well within the Kenya side of the Kenya-Ethiopia border, the Merille were preparing the land for cultivation.
In the adjacent arid land, the Turkana were languishing for lack of food. Even the District Commissioner could not access the delta. Neither could our security officers. I was informed that about 2,500 Merille live here, 900 among them armed militia. They use the arms kill our citizens while exploiting our land and water resources.
Mr. Speaker,
We are taking steps to put these acts of aggression to a stop, once and for all.
For a start, the Government has directed the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal security, in conjunction with the Ministry of State for Defense to ensure the 2,500 Merilles residing in the River Omo Delta are relocated to Ethiopia.
The Government has equally directed the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the broken and dilapidated boundary beacons are repaired.
The Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security has been tasked to scale up our security presence in this area. It will increase the number of Police in the area, upgrade Todonyang Police Post to a Police Station and provide it with necessary facilities and equipment.
Mr. Speaker,
As I said at the start, we are determined to secure all our borders, not just the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Consequently, we have directed the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, together with the Ministry of Lands, to fast-track the delimitation, demarcation and delineation of Kenya’s boundaries with all neighbouring countries, including replacing broken and dilapidated boundary beacons.
The Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, jointly with the Ministry of State for Defence have been tasked to work out modalities of deploying joint security forces, including the military, closer to our borders. Specific instructions have been given to the Ministry of Defence to ensure our country’s territorial integrity and safety from external aggression in all places, including Migingo and Ugingo islands.
Mr. Speaker;
As we speak, the Government has beefed up security along the Kenya/Ethiopia border at Todonyang. We have relocated the GSU and AP camps at Todonyang to the
actual border point 14 kilometres away to counter any planned attacks between the two communities.
The Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons will also move in at set up the border control at the actual border point to strengthen border surveillance and control.
In addition, the Government has vetted responsible and respected Tukana men who will immediately start working with Kenya Police Reserves along the border.
As we do this, we are also preparing to meet our Ethiopian counterparts to seek a joint and lasting solution to this border menace. In this regard, a Joint Ministerial Consultative meeting has been fixed to take place in Addis Ababa between 31st May and 2nd June 2011.
Before our ministers travel to Addis Ababa, we will hold a Joint Kenya-Ethiopia Border Commissioners’ meeting here in Kenya on 25th and 26th May, 2011 to discuss matters of mutual interest.
As we embark on these measures, we are taking steps to address the other urgent needs of the residents of Turkana, other than security.
The Ministry of State for Special Programmes has been providing food to the people here on a monthly basis. So far, the Ministry has distributed at least 100 bags of rice, 100 cartons of vegetable oil and 100 bags of beans. The Government will scale up food distribution in this area in the next two months to ensure nobody dies of hunger and to reduce the need by the local population to cross into Ethiopia in search for food.
Mr. Speaker,
For many, many years, the Turkana region has been subjected to marginalization and neglect. I firmly believe that we owe it to the people in Turkana County to dedicate our time and resources specifically to enhance their social and economic well-being.
With security restored here, the Government intends to embark on a massive economic empowerment of this region beginning by providing a reliable and constant source of water and food.
We intend to replicate in the Omo delta, what we achieved in the Tana Delta’s Bura region through a massive irrigated agriculture.
In fact, the Government has already initiated major programmes for development of the Turkana region. For example, the Government is currently expanding a number of irrigation schemes in Turkana East and South, which in total cover 5800 acres. When these schemes are completed, 145,000 bags of maize will be harvested annually.
In addition, since January 2011, the Government has released Sh27 million to Turkana County for drought mitigation measures. If the drought persists for a further six months, the Government shall spend another Ksh130 million by June 2011.
With food and security in place, the Turkana County will take its place in the development of our nation and the whole country will be uplifted. This Government has pulled many fasts. I pledge to this house that we will pull this one in Turkana County and replicate it across Northern Kenya later.
Thank you.
Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga, EGH, MP
PRIME MINISTER
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment