Security beefed up along Kenya-South Sudan border over refugee influx

A section of Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County. (Photo:File/Standard)

By Lucas Ng’asike and Cyrus Ombati

Turkana, Kenya: Security has been tightened along the Kenya-South Sudan border following an influx of refugees fleeing the war-torn country.

More than 7,000 South Sudanese families especially women and children have fled  to seek a asylum at Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana West Sub County.

The UNCHR say the number of the South Sudanese families who are registered at Nadapal border point was overwhelming.

For the last three weeks since the eruption of ethnic violence between the government forces and the rebels group loyal to former Vice president Dr. Riek Machar, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands displaced from their homes.

Turkana West Sub County Police Commander Jonathan Ngala confirms that more security officers have been deployed at Nadapal border point to beef up security there.

Weapons

Mr. Ngala said they were carrying out a thorough screening of Sudanese refugees at the border point to ensure no weapons cross to the Country.

He explained that they were profiling details all refugees entering the Country to ensure only genuine cases are registered before they are allowed to the camp.

“We are conducting a thorough vetting of the refugees at the border point. Our security personnel are at high security alert as screening of refugees continues at the border point. We want to make sure that those asylum seekers do not smuggle weapons into the Country,” Ngala said.

The government has also set up a refugee centre at the border where all new arrivals are vetted before they are registered.

But Turkana leaders have urged the government to remain vigilant at the Kenya/South Sudan border in a wake of the fighting in major areas in the newest young state in the continent.

 Led by Turkana Women Representative Joyce Emanikor, the leaders raised fear that the ethnic fighting in South Sudan may likely to spill to the Country.

“Our fear is some fighters in South Sudan may take the advantage of the crisis to cross with weapons to the country hence the need to carry out a thorough screening for weapons,” Emanikor said.

Interior cabinet secretary Joseph ole Lenku assured the MP Kenya is working with UNHCR to ensure refugees arriving at the border are catered for.

"We have set up bases to receive and process those arriving following the happenings there. We are equally concerned because it will have an impact on our internal affairs," said Lenku who added government agencies are closely monitoring the development there.

 

Other sources said the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been meeting daily to get briefs on the development in South Sudan.

More than 1,600 Kenyans who were in Bor region have so far been evacuated to Nairobi by the Kenya Defence Forces.

Fighting broke out between two factions in Juba in December and it has escalated to other areas forcing thousands of foreigners to flee. The fighting pits local Dinkas and Nuers for political powers.