Ethiopian insurgents OLF not part of Moyale killings, locals claim

A destroyed house in Moyale, two communities have clashed intermittently in the area since July 2012. [PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE]

BY FAITH RONOH

MOYALE, KENYA: A minority rights development forum in Moyale has refuted claims that the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has been fuelling clashes in the region.

Kenya Minority Rights and Development Forum (KMRDF) programs director Mr Ibrahim Gollo said OLF is not involved in the recent state of anarchy in Moyale and its environs.

Gollo who was reacting to reports in a section of the media where the OLF are being accused of funding the Borana, said the liberation front has never been involved in supporting clashes in the region.

“I want to make it clear that the Borana Community are not supported by OLF, in fact, OLF has never supported local conflicts,” said Gollo.

He regretted that the state of insecurity in the region has stalled various development projects as residents continue suffering from lack of food and water.

“A Chinese firm, China Wu Yi, was forced to suspend construction of the fourth phase of the Isiolo- Moyale road after its camp was attacked by rowdy youths from Turbi last week and a vehicle was hijacked and burned,” he said.

Gollo called on the government to investigate forces behind the viscous circle of insecurity that has seen 80 per cent of Moyale residents flee to neighbouring Ethiopia.

He said due to increased tension, Humanitarian assistance has come to a halt with Ethiopian government stopping transfer of food and other basic necessities to the Kenyan border.

“Instead of ongoing blame games, the government should come in and assist residents of Moyale because they are starving. Residents have not been able to access food and water for the past five days because all humanitarian operations have stalled,” he explained.

In a quick rejoinder, Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani who spoke to The Standard on phone said,” as far as I am concerned, OLF are involved 100 per cent in the ongoing clashes.”

He revealed that over 50 people have been killed in the past four months but congratulated the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) team deployed in the region to stop inter-clan clashes for doing a great job.

The governor added that his government has deployed a special team in Moyale to offer humanitarian assistance.

“Offering humanitarian assistance is quite challenging because some Kenyans are seeking refuge in neighbouring Ethiopia therefore identifying them is a problem. However, I have sent a team to Moyale to address the issue,” he said.

Both Kenya and Ethiopia, have since beefed up security in the region deploying soldiers along their common border to ensure that no militiamen cross into Kenya.

Both countries have also ensured that those seeking refuge are given a safe haven although this is restricted to the main crossing border point at Moyale.