The security agencies manning the volatile Northern Kenya borders have linked the persistent insecurity in the area to poor infrastructure and a lack of clear boundaries and borderlines.
Commandant of Border Police Unit Gitiba Mwita said that the constant insecurity in the region was largely caused by the lack of roads along international boundaries, which he said had hampered security patrols and the existence of ungoverned spaces and occupation by Kenyans.
The commandant also added that the lack of demarcations and delimitation of boundaries and poor or lack of communication network in the area had also hindered proper communication in some areas.
“We have also had challenges such as rampant cattle rustling between Turkana and neighboring communities, lack of motorable infrastructure and accommodation, and slow diplomatic engagement on the relocation of Nadapal to Nakodok, the designated crossing border point,” said Mwita.
Mwita made the submissions during a meeting convened by the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations chaired by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo.
The Committee, which is in Turkana county as part of the ongoing Senate Grassroot sessions, met with security agencies manning areas in the region to deliberate on some of the challenges units in the area faced in implementing security along the borders of Turkana county and other regions.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations has today held a meeting with the Commandant, Border Police Unit, to deliberate on the challenges faced by the Unit in the implementation of security along the borders in Turkana County.
During the meeting that was held in Lodwar and attended by the Counter Part Committee members from the Turkana County Assembly, Senators also deliberated on various challenges raised by Mwita and his team, giving guidance on several of the issues.
Mwita, in his submissions, appealed to the Senate to initiate ways that will help strengthen the Unit, enabling it to deliver on its mandate.
He also gave a raft of recommendations, among them hastening the diplomatic engagement between Kenya and South Sudan, encouraging Kenyans to occupy areas along the Kenya-Sudan border by the National and County governments, acquiring modern equipment to enable the Formed-Up Units to operate and sensitizing local communities.
The Unit Boss further told the legislators that there is a need for the Communication Authority of Kenya to be engaged to erect communication masts along the Kenya-South Sudan border to aid in communication besides the construction of security roads along the border by the 2 levels of government.
The Senators assured the Commandant that the Committee and Senate at large will support the Unit by putting in place measures that will strengthen and empower the Unit to serve Kenyans effectively.
Members of the County Assembly who spoke during the meeting led by the County Assembly of Turkana Security Committee Chairperson MCA Samuel Aliwo appealed to the Senate to help establish policies that will ensure the whole Country is secure for Kenyans to carry on with their daily activities without fear.
Senators in attendance were Cheptumo, Committee vice-chairperson Karen Nyamu, and senators George Mbugua, Lenku Seki (Kajiado), and Lamu Senator Joseph Githuku.
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