Government-Allied Politicians Make U-Turn on Opening Kenya-Somali Border

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Thursday, July 6, 2023 –Kenya Kwanza leaders, mostly who supported the reopening of the recent Kenya-Somalia border, have made a sharp u-turn on the matter.

Outspoken Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has come out openly to support the continued closure of the porous border as announced by Interior Ministry yesterday Wednesday July 5.

Taking to his socials on Thursday July 6, Cherargei said it is a good idea for the border to remain closed until such time there will be enough security measures put in place to safeguard Kenya from incessant militant attacks.

“Congratulations CS Interior kindiki for closing Somalia border over increased terror attacks in Northern Kenya & Lamu resulting to loss of lives & property. The govt should compensate lives and property loss through terrorism acts.

“To CS Kindiki deal now with financiers, planners, sympathisers, coordinators of terror attacks mostly in Kenya,” he said in his statement.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, yesterday, said the reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border points will now delay following a spate of terror attacks in the country.

He said other forms of cross-border crimes are on the rise hence the need to delay the planned reopening.

“The government will delay the planned reopening of Kenya-Somalia border points until we conclusively deal with the recent spate of terror attacks and cross-border crime,” he said.

“We have postponed the plans to reopen the main borders in Mandera, Wajir, here Liboi and Kiunga due to the increased attacks by the terrorists in the past months. We will deal with them first then continue with the plans.” He announced.

He made the remarks in the Dadaab refugee Camp on Wednesday July 5 while on the ongoing tour of the Northern Region to address terrorism.

This directive goes against CS Aden Duale’s initial calls to reopen the border so that cross border activities could resume.

“The closure of Kenya Somali border baring the entry and exit of people and commodities between the two nations over a decade ago had adverse effects on the economy, particularly in the North Eastern Province,” Duale stated.

Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration closed all the entry points on the border citing increased attacks in the country. But after William Ruto won power, eight months ago, he decided to, immediately, reopen the border, what has seen insecurity cases reemerge.

Ruto’s government, therefore, has announced continued closure.