- The projected dubbed “Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border land project” has been conceived by and is being funded by the United Kingdom government.
- It was launched in Mandera.
The persistent insecurity that has marred development in North Eastern region could soon be a thing of the past.
This is after the government launched a cross-border security project that will see neighbouring countries share information.
Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday presided over a launch of the project that will see Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia join hands in intelligence sharing, border security management, surveillance of movement of arms among other security components.
It will also entail reinforcing vetting of cross-border movement and fostering inter-societal trust to stem suspicion that have often led to inter-clan conflict in the region.
The projected dubbed “Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border land project” has been conceived by and is being funded by the United Kingdom government.
It was launched in Mandera.
Its objectives are listed as engendering peace and stability and ensuring effective border management.
The elaborate initiative, if well implemented, will see the incessant insecurity challenges experienced in Mandera and the frontier counties addressed.
The county, as well as those bordering the horn countries, has borne the largest brunt of terror attacks as insecurity across the border tends to spill over to the areas in Kenyan territory.
The porous border has not helped, as the criminal elements find their way to Kenya to terrorise residents.
Speaking during the event, Gachagua said insecurity in the neighbouring states was having a spill-over effect in Kenya, increasing refugee outflow which puts pressure on the country’s resources.
“Insecurity in our neighbouring countries is pilling pressure in our countries and this project is key in fostering peace and stability in the region to see how we can stop the pattern,” he said.
“Kenya is already taking care of 2.5 million refugees from the neighbouring countries and this is putting a real strain on the resources of our country. We request our development partners to come in in this respect and help us,” the DP said, emphasising the relevance of the peace project.
Gachagua said if the joint border security project is well implemented, it has the potential of silencing the gun in the region, and allow room for economic activities to take place and inter-people social cooperation.
“No meaningful development can take place in this region without silencing of the guns. The guns must first be silent for the industries to roar back, creating jobs and ensuring prosperity.”
The launching event saw high profile officials from the neighbouring country take part, including internal security minister of Somalia, the peace minister of Ethiopia and the deputy president of Jubaland in Somalia.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said the initiative is timely as it would help in addressing the problem of terrorism that has proven difficult to address by only one country.
“…..we cannot overemphasise the fact that there is no single set of solutions for the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism.
This is the reason why we have converged here today, to enhance border security cooperation and coordination between the Government of Kenya, the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Government of Ethiopia to prevent, disrupt, and respond to al Shabaab and affiliated terror networks,” the CS said.
He said the details of the trilateral arrangement will be finetuned in weeks to come but that it provides “a framework of cooperation that will enable the three governments to coordinate activities aimed at disrupting the activities and other terror related networks/organisations along the borders.”
UK High commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said the British government was keen to have the three neighbouring countries meaningfully coordinate in a unified border management to help confront the unceasing security challenge in the region.
The outgoing diplomat said the former Mandera Governor Ali Roba inspired her to pursue the project when she visited the county for the first time.
-Edited by SKanyara