House Defence committee chair supports deployment of KDF to Moyale

By JOB WERU

NYERI, KENYA: The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations has supported the government’s move to deploy the military in volatile areas.

Committee Chairman Ndung’u Gethenji said the move is necessitated by the need to conserve peace and guard lives of innocent people which are threatened by the raging violence.

Gethenji, who is also the Tetu MP said it would be unfortunate if the government failed to act to protect its people and their properties.

He added that the situation in Turkana and Marsabit counties warranted the use of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), police it had overwhelmed the police.

“The attacks are overwhelming the police and the nature of insecurity in Marsabit and Turkana counties can only be handled by the military as the matter has now gone out of hands,” said Gethenji.

Gethenji’s comments came at a time when residents of Moyale in Marsabit County have fled the area, for fear of appraisals by KDF soldiers who were deployed late last week to quell skirmishes that have left scores of people dead.

Reports indicate that thousands of residents have fled towards the neighbouring Ethiopia, as some leaders accused the Ethiopian military of taking advantage of the incursion to fish out suspected members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

The residents have since accused the Ethiopian military of harassing them, in the guise of screening them.

Similarly, the government beefed security in Turkana, where a crisis erupted following killing of residents by suspected Pokot raiders.

On his note, Gethenji said the Kenya police should up their game and ensure that security in all parts of the country does not reach uncontrollable levels.

“Police must work to ensure that there is enough security for all in all parts of the country as this is what the government has tasked them to do,” he said.

Gethenji spoke to journalists when he visited a middle aged father of two sets of twins in Tetu, whose wife died immediately after delivery.

Paul Wang’ombe has been left to take care of one-month old twins following his wife’s death, last month.

Gethenji hailed Wang’ombe for the work that he has been doing as a man by taking care of his children.

He called on community members to support each other in times of need.

He asked all to embrace Nyumba Kumi initiative to as to understand each other not only for the purposes of security for the well-being of each other.