Kenya MPs seek to protect borders
May 13, 2009
Uganda has expressed serious concern over the motion Kenyan MPs moved in Parliament yesterday, calling upon President Mwai Kibaki to use all means, including the mobilisation of armed forces, to protect the country’s borders.
By Barbara Among
Uganda has expressed serious concern over the motion Kenyan MPs moved in Parliament yesterday, calling upon President Mwai Kibaki to use all means, including the mobilisation of armed forces, to protect the country’s borders.
The motion, which failed to pass after the Government side walked out, was referring to the controversial Migingo Island and the Karamoja border dispute.
“The government of Uganda views with grave misgivings the motion that is currently being debated on the floor of the parliament of Kenya, championing the use of the Kenyan navy and the airforce in the resolution of this matter,†said Fred Opolot, the director of the Uganda Media Centre, yesterday.
He called it “unfortunate†that certain members of Kenyan political class continued to misinform and mislead the Kenyan public on the border issues.
The Migingo row led to a heated debate in the Kenyan House, with MPs expressing anger over what they called “interference on Kenya’s territorial integrity by Ugandan forcesâ€, both on Migingo and at the Uganda-Kenyan border in Kacheliba.
“Migingo is ours. Even if it is only one acre, we will reclaim. Even if it is only a piece of rock, we will do all we need to protect it,†MP Bonny Khalwale was quoted as saying.
He called the actions by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his reference to the matter as a “Jaluo†issue contemptuous.
But he was interrupted by assistant defence minister David Musila, who said it was against standing orders “to discuss the character of the head of state of a friendly country.â€
The motion came two days after a joint technical team started a verification exercise to establish the border between the two countries as well as the ownership of Migingo Island.
Police chiefs of both countries had earlier agreed that Ugandan Police officers would provide security on the island as an interim measure.
Uganda has also refuted reports that its military crossed into Kenya via the Karamoja-Pokot border area.
Opolot yesterday stressed that Uganda will stick to diplomatic means to resolve the issue. He also refuted BBC reports which quoted Museveni as saying Migingo was in Kenya and the water in Uganda.
He clarified that the President did not intend to undermine the Luo as a community when he referred to the uprooting of the railway line by some youth in Nairobi.
“The President has never gone out of his way to undermine any ethnic group,†he assured.
Kenyan MPs from the region around Migingo yesterday demanded an apology, saying President Museveni had insulted the Luo.
Presenting a lecture on the East Africa Federation at the University of Dar-es-Salaam on Monday, Museveni asked the ‘Wajaluo’, whom he said had been rioting, to stay calm.
“Wajaluo are mad, they have been rioting, I have been telling them that if you continue like that, no Mjaluo will be allowed to fish there,†The Citizen quoted Museveni as saying.
Uganda has expressed serious concern over the motion Kenyan MPs moved in Parliament yesterday, calling upon President Mwai Kibaki to use all means, including the mobilisation of armed forces, to protect the country’s borders.
The motion, which failed to pass after the Government side walked out, was referring to the controversial Migingo Island and the Karamoja border dispute.
“The government of Uganda views with grave misgivings the motion that is currently being debated on the floor of the parliament of Kenya, championing the use of the Kenyan navy and the airforce in the resolution of this matter,†said Fred Opolot, the director of the Uganda Media Centre, yesterday.
He called it “unfortunate†that certain members of Kenyan political class continued to misinform and mislead the Kenyan public on the border issues.
The Migingo row led to a heated debate in the Kenyan House, with MPs expressing anger over what they called “interference on Kenya’s territorial integrity by Ugandan forcesâ€, both on Migingo and at the Uganda-Kenyan border in Kacheliba.
“Migingo is ours. Even if it is only one acre, we will reclaim. Even if it is only a piece of rock, we will do all we need to protect it,†MP Bonny Khalwale was quoted as saying.
He called the actions by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his reference to the matter as a “Jaluo†issue contemptuous.
But he was interrupted by assistant defence minister David Musila, who said it was against standing orders “to discuss the character of the head of state of a friendly country.â€
The motion came two days after a joint technical team started a verification exercise to establish the border between the two countries as well as the ownership of Migingo Island.
Police chiefs of both countries had earlier agreed that Ugandan Police officers would provide security on the island as an interim measure.
Uganda has also refuted reports that its military crossed into Kenya via the Karamoja-Pokot border area.
Opolot yesterday stressed that Uganda will stick to diplomatic means to resolve the issue. He also refuted BBC reports which quoted Museveni as saying Migingo was in Kenya and the water in Uganda.
He clarified that the President did not intend to undermine the Luo as a community when he referred to the uprooting of the railway line by some youth in Nairobi.
“The President has never gone out of his way to undermine any ethnic group,†he assured.
Kenyan MPs from the region around Migingo yesterday demanded an apology, saying President Museveni had insulted the Luo.
Presenting a lecture on the East Africa Federation at the University of Dar-es-Salaam on Monday, Museveni asked the ‘Wajaluo’, whom he said had been rioting, to stay calm.
“Wajaluo are mad, they have been rioting, I have been telling them that if you continue like that, no Mjaluo will be allowed to fish there,†The Citizen quoted Museveni as saying.