Concerns over influx of militias, terrorists at Kenya-Ethiopia border
Deputy Police Inspector-General Gilbert Masengeli.
The National Police Service on Monday announced training its guns on the increasingly worrying influx of militia groups and suspected terrorists along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Deputy Inspector-General, Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli says the operation seeks to flush out foreigners terrorising Kenyan citizens along the border.
"We appeal to the local communities to help us flush out all the foreign insurgents causing mayhem in our country," Mr Masengeli said when he made an impromptu visit to Marsabit town on Monday.
The operation dubbed Ondoa Jangili targets the Ethiopian Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) who are believed to be hiding in parts of Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
Mr Masengeli said the operation would target criminals that have found safe havens in Kenya and were conducting activities that compromise national security.
The Oromo Liberation Army has been accused of reigning terror on the residents living along the Ethiopia-Kenya borders through their illegal activities such as gun-running, drug and human trafficking, contraband goods trade, illegal mining and kidnapping of innocent citizens for ransom.
The most affected areas are Sololo, Moyale, North Horr and Merti sub-counties in Marsabit and Isiolo counties.
Mr Masengeli called for collaborative efforts of the local communities in the affected areas to provide crucial information about the criminal gangs’ hideouts.
He also warned any community members against conniving or promoting the criminals' operations directly or failure to relay reports about their known hideouts.
The deputy inspector-general was accompanied by the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin, General Service Unit Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni, Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich and Eastern Regional Commander Charles Naibei.
Others included the Eastern Regional Administration Police Commander Barasa Lusweti, Eastern Regional Investigation Officer Michael Sang and the county security team.
The impromptu visit came against the backdrop of the abduction of two young men in Golole area in Sololo on Sunday.
During a public meeting presided over by the ASALs and Regional Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama, the local administration and community members made passionate appeals to the government to beef up security and establish police posts in the region to help keep at bay the armed groups’ activities.
Sololo former Dabado Dambi appealed to the government to swing into action and avert any further abductions by the suspected OLA members in the region.
His sentiments were reiterated by Golole area elder Boru Dida, who held that the increasing wave of terror unleashed by the OLA member was becoming a concern for the residents in the region.
Sololo Deputy Coounty Commissioner Mohammed Intallow admitted that two young men were recently abducted by the suspected members of the ALA and multi-security team had been deployed to pursue the criminals.
"One of the area chiefs in this sub county didn't manage to join us following an abduction of two citizens and he is among the team that have gone to pursue the criminals," Mr Intallo said.
On May 28, 2024, a Forole-bound lorry carrying eight passengers was sprayed with bullets and later torched at Elle Dimtu at around 2am by the suspected members if the ALA.
Five passengers died on the spot, two sustained critical injuries and were pronounced dead upon their arrival at the local health facility. Only one young girl escaped unhurt.
Concealed identities
During meeting held by the county security team, community members who wanted their identities concealed, confided in journalists and held that some areas in North Horr Constituency such as Saru, Forole, Dukana among others were under OLA siege.
They held that the gang terrorised the areas and some imes forced themselves into people's houses demanding for food, water or would even force men out of their homes before raping their wives.
All the sufferings were spoken of in hushed tones for fear of punishment by the OLA members.
On August 12, 2024, two Korean missionaries were abducted in Odda area in Moyale by suspected OLA insurgents. Their whereabouts are not yet known to date.
Mr Masengeli, who was the then acting IG and DCI boss Amin, visited the scene following the abduction of the missionaries David Lee and his mother-in-law Hiwi Sokk Cheon.
In September 22024, a bus belonging to the Salama Bus Company ferrying 50 passengers and a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying two twin brothers from Moyale to Nairobi were sprayed with bullets at around 8pm near Funanyata area in Moyale sub-county.
Two passengers lost their lives during the incident. The cross-border incursions by the Ethiopian forces have continued to heightened inter-state frosty relations between Kenya and Ethiopia with the Ethiopian Administration blaming their Kenyan counterparts for hosting the rebel groups.
The Oromo Liberation Army, also known as Oromo Liberation Front-Shane, was originally the military wing of the Oromo Liberation Front Party. It split from the party in April 2019.
They are regarded in Ethiopia as terrorists and the Ethiopian army usually pursue them in their Kenyan hideouts.
In November 2021, the residents of Moyale in Kenya accused the Ethiopian troops of crossing the border, looting neighborhoods and abducting the civilians suspected to shelter the OLA insurgents.
In December 2021, during his visit to Kenya, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed asked the former Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta to help eliminate the OLA insurgents who had sought refuge in Kenya.
Since 2010, Kenya and Ethiopian administrations have shared intelligence on the Oromo Liberation Front resulting into arrests and deportation.
The Ethiopian officials have also held that the Oromo Liberation Front had been working in cahoots with Al-Shabaab.
