Top officers in Migingo tour to ease tension

By Nick Oluoch and Vitalis Kimutai

Kenya: A high-powered security team visited the disputed Migingo Island as the Kenyan Government moved in to ease tension building with neighbouring Uganda.

The delegation that was headed by Nyanza PPO Joseph ole Tito met the island’s occupants as well as officers manning the area. Others present were Nyatike Sub County Commissioner Moses Ivuto and Migori County Police Commandant Clement Gatogo. Mr Gatogo said they were to review the working conditions of Kenyan officers.

“Part of the reason we are here is to ensure that our officers are able to do their work well,” he said. The officers first had a meeting at Migingo Island before moving over to Ugingo, about 50 metres away, where Kenya Administration Police officers are based.

Residents, however, reported that Ugandan police officers snubbed the meeting. This comes barely two days after an incident in which three Kenyan APs were seriously injured by Ugandan officers.

The APs were severely beaten in public by the Ugandans after being stopped at Nyandiwa Islands on Kenyan waters. Ivuto had sought to play down the issue, which he termed unfortunate and said injured officers had already been taken to local hospitals for treatment.

“Only one of our officers got injured after he was pushed, slipped and injured his leg and was taken to hospital,” he said. Ugandans have a strong presence on the island, with 18 police officers headed by a senior superintendent of police. They also have a well-stocked armoury.

Extortion

Kenya has nine officers who are headed by a police inspector although there are more AP officers in Ugingo. MPs have claimed that Uganda soldiers deployed to guard the disputed Migingo Island were extorting money from Kenyan fishermen.

The legislators further alleged that uniformed and armed Ugandan security forces guarding the island have been pursuing fishermen to the Kenyan territory protected in the international treaties.

The leaders, John Mbadi, Nicholas Gumbo, Simba Arati, Mburi Apuri, Junet Mohamed, Zainabu Chidzuga and Opiyo Wandae accused the Government of failing to protect its territorial boundaries and ceding ground to Uganda on the dispute over the location of the island.

“For over five years, the Government has poured water on the Migingo issues and this must stop. We want a clear position on whether the island is in Kenya or Uganda,” Gumbo said.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta should be told that it is time to walk the talk as Kenya can not continue to look like a small brother of Uganda on the matter,” Gumbo said.