Migori governor vows to storm Migingo over row

Migori County Governor Okoth Obado (holding a floater) with county security officers during a visit to Migingo and Ugingo islands in Lake Victoria. He protested the harassment of Kenyans and police officers by Ugandan authorities. [PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/STANDARD]

Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado, has vowed to storm Migingo Island over harassment of Kenyans by Ugandan security officers.

Speaking during the third celebration of the county dialogue forum in Migori town, Mr Obado said it was wrong for Ugandan security officers to beat up the civilians and law enforcers on Kenyan soil. "This is about territorial integrity. We must protect our land, our people and our property at all costs. We are tired of begging foreigners to leave our land," an angry Obado said amid cheers from the public.

"Even President Museveni knows Migingo is in Kenyan territory and we will not allow his police officers to beat up our people. Citizens of Migori are very bitter and we will storm the island to face the Ugandans," he said.

"My people are tired of being arbitrarily arrested, tortured and detained in police cells. The situation is getting worse when even our security officers and civil servants including election registration clerks are arrested," Obado said.

Obado blamed the national government for not moving fast to end the stalemate over the island.

"I still appeal to the national government to not only beef up security on the two islands, but also move with speed to offer a lasting solution with regards to who owns the island," he said.

Migingo is a tiny 2000 square metre island reputed for its fish riches and attracting huge populations of fisherfolk and cross border business people.

Obado demanded that the joint survey carried out by Kenyan and Ugandan authorities be made public so that demarcation of the exact borderline is known. "We could be speaking here yet our land has been ceded without our authority. Tax payers paid Sh140 million for the joint survey in 2009 and we need results tabled," Obado said.

Tension continues remains high in Migingo even as Kenyan traders continue to flee the island over communication curfews and violence meted on them by Ugandan security officers.

Last Saturday, the Ugandan officers tried to detain Migingo Sub-Location Assistant Chief Mrs Esther Masako and when an Administration Police officer tried to intervene, he was attacked and beaten up by the Ugandan security team.

Kenyan police officers and traders said the Ugandan police confiscate mobile phones belonging to Kenyans and arrest anyone seen making phone calls in public.

"Two of my colleagues have been assaulted by the Ugandan officers and nothing has been done to reprimand them. We are really demoralized as security officers,' he said.

Meanwhile, the Migori County Police boss, David Kirui, has blamed the Kenyan security officers stationed at Ugingo and Migingo islands over the stalemate, arguing that the problem started when Kenyan Marine police officers stationed at Ugingo harassed some Ugandan residents of Migingo who had gone to purchase foodstuff in Muhuru Bay.

County police boss, however, said he is liaising with the county government to visit Migingo Island soon in order to resolve the problem and restore peace on the island.

"But the Kenyan police stationed at the two islands must know their boundaries and scope of work. We shall visit the two islands to see way forward,' he said.