In a shocking revelation about how politicians take national security for granted, government agencies are investigating claims that some politicians in Marsabit County are ‘importing’ voters from across the border as they prepare for the 2017 polls.

Investigators are zeroing in on chiefs and their assistants who are allegedly used by  politicians to issue Ethiopians with Kenyan national identity cards so they can help tilt the scales in their favour in the next polls.

Marsabit leaders now want the National Government to arrest those politicians involved.

Intelligence sources from the vast county indicate that the chiefs and elders, who are members of their respective vetting committees, are used by politicians to help the foreigners get the document.

Senior members of the vetting committees include assistant county commissioners, deputy county commissioner (DCs), an officer from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Registrar of Persons or their representatives. Chiefs and elders vet those seeking IDs on behalf of the committee.

National security

The plot, according to sources, is to enroll the aliens as voters in various constituencies and wards in the 2017 elections.

Most of these ‘imports’ are able-bodied men with an average age of 30 years but most do not speak either English or Kiswahili.

“Foreigners from southern Ethiopia have been given Kenyan IDs. More are lined up to get Kenyan citizenship and we are probing this matter as it also touches on national security,” said Kipchumba Rutto,  the deputy county commissioner.

“We also know that the aliens are given IDs so they can be registered as voters in the 2017 General Election.”

Mr Rutto said authorities believe rival politicians use the chiefs and village elders to recruit the foreigners. 

However, Governor Ukur Yattani dismissed the claims and accused Rutto of masquerading as a deputy county commissioner.

“That man (Rutto) is an assistant county commissioner using a wrong title (deputy county commissioner). He should be held accountable if he cannot substantiate these wild allegations. Let the Government probe this matter and arrest persons behind this racket. I am not aware of the matter,” said Mr Yattani.

The governor said Kenyan and Ethiopian herdsmen often migrate across the border during the dry season, but adds that this should not be construed to mean that aliens are being granted Kenyan IDs in Marsabit.

The identification of legitimate citizens becomes difficult when one ethnic group is found in the two countries. Both Kenya and Tanzania have people of the Borana and Gabra ethnic group  in addition to the Somali clans of Garre, Burji and Dassanach.

This is why Saku MP Ali Rasso feels that the allegations are credible. Rasso says he is aware that Ethiopians have been given IDs in his constituency. “We have people from southern Ethiopia who have been settled in Shuur (North Horr). Most of them have been given IDs even in Saku,” the MP said.

Mr Rasso, a retired Kenya army colonel, asked the Government to move fast and arrest the perpetrators of these crimes.

“The Government must make arrests. Giving Ethiopians Kenyan IDs  does not contribute to cohesion and peaceful co-existence,” he said.

Adan Chukulisa, the Sagante member of the county assembly (MCA), says since 2013, the number of Ethiopian immigrants who had been given Kenyan ID has been rising and now runs into the hundreds, particularly in  Shuur, a rich pasture zone in Marsabit, where most inhabitants are Gabra herdsmen.

“The Gabra from Marsabit in Shuur have a big problem with the immigrants from Ethiopia, who are commonly referred to as Gabra Migo. These groups were behind the clashes in Moyale and have now been granted Kenyan citizenship,” said Mr Chukulisa.

Nominated MCA Halake Dida said wealthy politicians work in cahoots with officials from the Department of Registration of Persons to issue Ethiopians with Kenyan citizenship.

But North Horr MP Chachu Ganya denied this.

“My constituency is the largest in the country and I have an issue with the Department of Registration of Persons because they have problems in ensuring that people have this crucial document,” said Mr Chachu.

Senator Abubakar Harugura also dismissed these claims.

Moyale MP Roba Duba, whose constituency borders Ethiopia and whose Borana community are accused of being involved in the racket, could not be reached for comment.

Laisamis MP Joseph Lekuton could also not be reached for comment despite report indicating that herdsmen and fishermen from Turkana County are being settled in Loyangalani on the northern shores of Lake Turkana for the same purpose.

Rutto said a chief and an elder arrested and charged over the same matter were acquitted by the court. Five other people, including a chief from Saku and Sololo, are under investigation. “We have already taken steps and more people will be arrested including the politicians who are funding the process,’’ said the administrator.

He said the problem is rampant in border centres of Moyale and North Horr constituencies but has now spread to Saku.

Officials from the Department of Registrar of Persons based in Saku, Moyale and North Horr districts could not be reached for comment.