Kenya beefs up security along border with Ethiopia

April 17, 2006 (NAIROBI) — Kenyan Police have been deployed along the Kenya-Ethiopian border where tension has been mounting for the last one week.

The crisis followed attacks and incarceration of Kenyan herders by Ethiopian soldiers.

Yesterday, Eastern provincial acting police boss Robert Kitur said his officers were patrolling the vast border. The area extends from Moyale to Illaret – distance of more than 600 km.

The Kenyan herders had reportedly gone to graze their livestock in Ethiopia.

The herders, who are from Dukana location, right at the border, were later set free. But all their livestock, numbering more than 3,000, were confiscated by the Ethiopian soldiers.

The animals have not yet been returned. However, Mr Kitur said they had made arrangements with the Ethiopian government for the livestock to be returned.

“We expect them any time from today (yesterday),” he said.

Apart from the Dukana incident, bandits from Ethiopia had crossed the border on Thursday 13 April and raided Uran Village in Moyale District. They stole 14 goats. Families living near the border have now fled to nearby schools, fearing attacks by the Ethiopians. They are camping at Dukana and El-hadi Primary Schools.

People of Dukana and El-hadi areas are mainly from the Gabra community. They have been accusing the Federal Government in Southern Ethiopia of being sympathetic to the Boranas, who they have been embroiled in conflict with.

Mr Kitur, however, said people living along the border should not fear since the government was in control.

“Police are there on the ground and I don’t see why people should panic,” he said.

Due to the prevailing drought, most of the Kenyan pastoralists have moved to Ethiopia where pastures are available.

Ethiopian pastoralists also cross over to Kenya especially at the end of the rainy season, like in the month of June and December.

(The Nation/ST)