State reclaims Kibish border town

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

The Cabinet has approved the reclamation of Kibish border town that lies within the disputed Elemi Triangle that has been claimed by South Sudan.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said Kibish is in Turkana County, and appealed to South Sudan not to claim the town as part of its territory.

Kalonzo said the reclamation has fully received an approval from the Cabinet, adding no country should lay claim to the region.

The Vice-President, who toured the border town in Turkana North for the first time this week, said the Government would initiate a development plan for the area to ensure improved infrastructure.

He said modern housing units have been completed to host Kenyan security personnel and administration officials.

Recently the Prime Minister Raila Odinga elevated Kibish to a full-fledged district.

“We cannot negotiate with any country over the ownership of Kibish. I want to assure Kenyans that Kibish is part of Kenya,” Kalonzo said.

The Standard On Saturday has learnt of claims that a South Sudanese minister has been implicated in arming local communities to repossess Kibish.

Musyoka said Kenya has substantive evidence to prove to the United Nations Security Council that Kibish is in Kenya.

He said the posting of a DCwas part of the Government’s commitment to ensure the area was protected from external aggression.

Local leaders led by the Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro hailed Government stand on the matter and welcomed the intervention to deploy State officials and security.