Kenya is edging closer to opening a new border post at Todonyang in Turkana County, a long-awaited project expected to transform trade, security, and community relations along the Kenya–Ethiopia border.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told Parliament that the government remains fully committed to operationalizing the Todonyang border post once the necessary infrastructure is completed.
Murkomen was responding to a question raised by Turkana Senator James Lomenen regarding the status of the project.
He explained that the Directorate of Immigration Services is responsible for managing Kenya’s borders through airports, seaports, and land crossings.
“In 2014, new laws encouraged closer cooperation among government agencies working at border points, leading to the creation of the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), which brings together all key border agencies,” Murkomen said.
According to the CS, the BCOCC conducted a comprehensive survey on September 7, 2018, which revealed an urgent need to establish a new border post at Todonyang, located along the Kenya–Ethiopia boundary.
The findings were subsequently forwarded to the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC), which approved the project.
Official communication of this approval was made through a letter dated May 23, 2022, designating the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as the lead agency responsible for implementing the project.
Following the approval, on November 17, 2022, the KRA formally requested the Turkana County Government to allocate 50 acres of land in Todonyang for construction of the border post.
In February 2023, a multi-agency team comprising representatives from KRA and the Border Management Secretariat met with county officials and visited the proposed site.
However, Murkomen noted that the land has not yet been officially allocated and urged the county government to expedite the process.
“The national government has demonstrated full commitment to operationalizing the Todonyang border post,” Murkomen said.
“All relevant agencies are ready to deploy their teams once the necessary infrastructure and buildings are completed.”
To prepare for this and other new border points, the Directorate of Immigration Services trained and graduated 286 new immigration officers in November 2024.
Murkomen noted that this ensures adequate personnel to manage upcoming posts across the country.
He added that the government is rolling out integrated border management systems, modern technology designed to enhance security, efficiency, and coordination at all entry and exit points.
Meanwhile, efforts to maintain peace and cooperation along the Kenya–Ethiopia border continue, with joint peace meetings held between communities on both sides of Todonyang.
Murkomen reaffirmed that the Todonyang border post remains a
priority project vital for regional trade, security, and cross-border relations
between Kenya and Ethiopia.
