Residents shop in Ethiopia as road blocked

By LIBAN GOLICHA

Moyale, Kenya: Residents along the border towns of Moyale and Sololo are now shopping in neighbouring Ethiopia towns after Marsabit-Moyale road was blocked.

High supplement of Ethiopian food and non-food items have been seen in Moyale town as highway blockage enter its seventh day.

Sololo Deputy County Commissioner Raphael Muiruri confirmed the supply of commodities from Ethiopia and said there was no fear of food crisis at the moment.

He said Sololo had been depending on neighbouring Ethiopia even before highway riots as main food commodities are supplied through Dukale road.

Muiruri confirmed the highway had been unblocked both at Walda and Makutano centres after fruitful peace meetings.

“Following barazas held that were attended by local leaders including area MP, youth and women in Sololo have unblocked the road,” Muiruri said.

But the road from Moyale and Turbi to Sololo remained closed and hundreds of Sololo residents have resorted to using Moyale-Hidilola road in Ethiopia to reach their homes.

In Moyale, Ethiopian food commodities have been seen in several shops.

“We fear food shortage will hit this area soon since there has been no transport for the past one week,” said Moyale Assistant Deputy County Commissioner John Kipsiwa.