Residents yet to return home three years after massacre of 70

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

Kajiado County: Residents who fled Todonyang area on the Kenya-Ethiopia border following a massacre three years ago are still afraid of returning home even after more security officers were deployed in the area.

The residents fled the area following a massacre that left more than 70 people dead and hundreds displaced.

Turkana North police chief Bernard Nyakwaka said a contingent of security personnel, including Kenya Marine Police, had been deployed to forestall further attacks by Ethiopia’s Merille militia.

He appealed to the locals to resume their normal fishing activities in the lake as security had been beefed up in the area.

But the killing of 11 fishermen two months ago by Merille militia has left deserted villages.

Not ready

A resident, Mr John Edome, who recently lost some of his relatives to the militia, said they were not ready to return to their homes in Todonyang even with the presence of security officers.

“It is good that the government has deployed Marine police there. But it has come late. Their presence does not give us confidence to return home. We still live in fear because this rogue militia has killed dozens of people even with the presence of security officers,” he said.

Edome said the government should set up a permanent military base in Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

About 1,500 families fled their homes in Todonyang border point and have settled in Lowarengak village.

Turkana North MP Christopher Nakuleu confirmed that several families have become IDPs due to threats by Merrile militia.

Mr Nakuleu said locals had abandoned fishing activities, which is a source of their livelihoods, after the militia took control of Lake Turkana.

Military base

He concurred with the residents, saying a military base should be set up up in the area to eliminate the constant threats posed by militia.

“We demand that the government sets up this base. The killing of more than 100 Kenyans by this militia in the past three years is justification enough for the military to move in just like they did in the Somalia case,” said Nakuleu.