Interior CS Kithure Kindiki is set to meet delegates from Somalia to deliberate on a roadmap for reopening of three cross-border points between the two countries.
He will be meeting his Somali counterpart Dr Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali (Doodishe).
The bilateral meeting will also see CS for Defence Aden Duale and Alfred Mutua (Foreign Affairs) in attendance alongside their counterparts from Somalia.
Top of the agenda includes discussion on common security threats, improving border management and infrastructure, exchanging ideas and experiences on border security management
They will also deliberate on a roadmap of reopening the three border points to strengthen cross-border cooperation, contribute to regional integration and promote sustainable development between the two countries.
In a statement, CS Kindiki said that the talks are critical because both countries need to decide on whether to re-open the borders and when that should happen.
“We will be having important engagements on Monday morning with the Somalia delegation with the view of re-opening the three border points between the two countries," he said.
Plans are underway to reopen three border points between Kenya and Somalia, after 12 years of closure due to the threat of terrorism. The first meeting is today in Nairobi.
Mandera/Belet Hawo (Belethawa), Liboi-Harhar/Dhobley and Kiunga/Ras Kamboni were closed by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
The previous administration’s term ended before talks on the reopening were concluded.
They were closed in 2011 at the height of al Shabaab attacks.
