We were just relaying information, Ethiopia says after 'invading' Kenya

A Kenyan administrator claims the heavily armed Ethiopian soldiers and police who crossed the Kenya border and stormed to Illeret Police Station in North Horr came to report they were going for elections and the frontier would be closed for five days.

North Horr sub county commissioner Mr James Sangolo told The Standard the convoy included a joint delegation from the national, regional and local administration. The incident happened on Sunday.

“They visited various security installations in Kenya to say the border would be closed for five days as they conduct the local and national elections. During this period, people would not be allowed to cross the border,” said Sangolo.

He said he called an administrator across the border to establish more details and was informed the mission was in good faith aimed at ensuring the area is safe.

“You see there is also a challenge in communication in terms of language and I think there was misunderstanding. But there was one commander who said they were in Kenya to report they would be in election and therefore the border would remain closed because they don’t use IDs as we do.”

Sangolo said there had not been any hostility with the Ethiopian counterparts and downplayed the incident amid concerns among Kenyans who view it as an invasion.

There has been concern after reports emerged a group of about 50 Ethiopian security forces armed with AK47 rifles crossed the border and stopped at the Illeret Police Station in North Horr, which is about 16 kilometres into the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

 According to initial police reports, the group disembarked and took strategic positions around the police station.

They later inspected the area and took photos of the area and talked to the Officer Commanding Station before leaving. They also stared at a lake that is down hills of the police station saying it was a good scenery before leaving.

They told police at the station they had not informed Kenya of the invasion.

The concern came because the incident happened a few days after Kenyan and Ethiopian surveyors concluded surveying and demarcating the border.

Other officials said the incident is the latest in a series that have happened in the recent past with no resistance or response from Kenya.

 The border line is poorly manned. For instance, the station has nine police officers and there would have been little they could do if they wanted to.

 Kenyans on social media have reacted angrily to the incident of the invasion and demanded explanation.