Kenya believes there could be spillover of the Tigray war into the country, with Oromo Liberation Front militia from Ethiopia crossing over to Sololo in Marsabit, which is experiencing clashes.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Monday told the press that some OLF militants might have crossed into the troubled county, which has been placed under a 6pm-6am curfew.
“There could also be spillover and crossover activities of suspected OLF groups from across the border, especially in the area around Sololo. We have a duty to keep our country safe and to keep our territory safe. With immediate effect, we are going to have a cleanup exercise in that area,” the Security minister said at GSU headquarters in Ruaraka. .
The minister spoke as he announced the dusk to dawn curfew and launched a special security “Operation Rejesha Amani Marsabit” to disarm locals following the killings. Six people, including an assistant chief and his assistant, were recently killed while in pursuit of bandits in Laisamis constituency.
He said there would be unprecedented security deployment to the county.
More that 170 people have lost their lives in the last one year in the inter-ethnic clashes, local leaders say.
Matiang’i also accused local politicians of acquiring illegal firearms “because they are in the neighbourhood of a conflict region”, resulting in killings of innocent people.
Further, proceeds from illegal mining in the region are said to finance the violence and terror cells in Isiolo county.
Marsabit County under a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew as Kom sub-location in Isiolo is declared a "Disturbed Area". Security operations to be intensified until peace and tranquility prevail. pic.twitter.com/KKX7Fx4FCB
— Ministry of Interior | Kenya (@InteriorKE) May 2, 2022
In February, Kenya and Ethiopia police bosses pledged to conduct cross border terror operations for stability after meeting in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael met Inspector General of National Police Service Hilary Mutyambai at his office and the two agreed to launch a joint operation against al Shabaab and “other groups” to stop hostile activities in the two countries.
They said the two countries will sign an MoU for the joint operation in a month.
Mutyambai said Ethiopia and Kenya agreed to enhance cooperation in exchange of information, adding that the MoU will enable the countries to ensure cross-border peace and security. “They discussed various matters, including a joint effort in the fight against regional and transnational crime and cooperation between our two police services geared towards capacity building,” a statement from Mutayambai’s office said.
The conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has been ongoing since November 2020,
An year later, Kenya Police Service issued a statement saying it was intensifying security and vigilance along its borders and at critical installations in response to the situation in countries in the region.
In the statement, Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the move was aimed at cushioning the country from the adverse effects of Tigray conflict.
“As an immediate neighbour to some of the affected countries, Kenya may be adversely impacted,” Shioso said, urging Kenyans to exercise vigilance and caution in their surroundings, and report suspected undocumented foreigners and unprocessed immigrants to the nearest police station.
US calls for probe into ethnic cleansing in Tigray, Ethiopia
