Busia County residents have expressed a variety of security issues that they experience along the Kenya-Uganda border, including cross-border robberies, drug trafficking, smuggling of illegal alcohol, and harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan security personnel.
The issues were presented during the Jukwaa La Usalama security forum, which is part of a nationwide tour to enhance dialogue between citizens and security agencies, led by Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday.
Murkomen accepts the challenges and affirms residents that the government is coordinating with Ugandan authorities to resolve border disputes, particularly those disturbing the fishermen on Lake Victoria.
“Kenya and Uganda have entered into an agreement for cooperation to settle the conflicts that come up at the lake and make sure that fishermen from both sides work without being intimidated,” the CS said.
The Interior minister took the opportunity to warn the politicians not to sponsor or support youth gangs in the region with resources, power, or influence, stating “47 Brothers” and “Jobless Boys” as examples of youth groups that create insecurity in the region. If these gangs are not stopped, he warned, they would be taken down, and their activities shut down.
Murkomen reiterated that government agencies are on the alert to battle drug trafficking and to stop the flow of illicit brews into the border towns, as security is a top priority.
The Jukwaa La Usalama platform was created by the Interior Ministry to give more room for public participation in security issues by providing communities with an opportunity to talk about threats and suggest solutions.
Local people took the forum very positively and expressed their willingness to let the issues raised be considered in the way of active bi-lateral cooperation and more effective local security interventions.
