Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu

PRESIDENT Mwai Kibaki yesterday gave a ray of hope to the communities living along the shore of Lake Victoria when for the first time went public and acknowledged that the two islands of Migingo and Ugingo are actual part of Kenya’s territorial waters.

Addressing a huge crowd which gathered at the Nyayo Nation Stadium to mark the 48th anniversary celebrations of “Madaraka Day”,the Kenyan Head of State emphatically and categorically declared “Migingo and Ugingo islands in Lake Victoria are in Kenya and that the government will use diplomatic means to free them from Uganda’s illegal occupation.

The President statement cam amid reports that the Ugandans have seized the second Island called Ugingo, which is located just a few kilometers from the controversial Migingo Island, and that Ugandan businessmen were busy erecting building on it using corrugated iron sheets, The reports says the Ugandan authority have already posted a dozen of armed marine police to guard the island.

However, Kenyan members of Parliament differed sharply with President Kibaki’s contention that the country would pursue the peaceful means through diplomacy to regain the control of the lost islands.

The want force used to solve border dispute and not diplomacy. They made this clear on Thursday night during hushed debate as Foreign Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka said Preside Kibaki will soon make decision to secure Kenya’s borders if diplomacy fails.

“The Commander-In-Chief will make a decision when the time comes otherwise we are on our guard for now,” the Assistant Minister told the MPs.

Onyonka pleaded with the MPs for patience saying Kenyan should use law and diplomacy before opting for military force.

Onyonka argued that Kenya strongly valued its position in the East Africanb Community and its relations with neighbors and that fighting might jeopardise this.

The Minister spoke after President Kibaki said disputed Migingo and Ugingo Islands were on Kenyan territory.

Juja MP William Kabogo was so blunt. He said how can they claim the islands belonging to Kenya yet Uganda security forces remain on the Island?

Nominate MP Musa Sirma asked,”How can you deal with Uganda in a diplomatic way when it is dealing with us carelessly?.

Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi {Sonko} was ordered to withdraw and apologise remarks he made that he has a squad of youth in Nairobi who only need to be armed to secure Kenyan borders.

Nominate MP Ms Millie Odhiambo asked if Kenyan should set up their own militia to secure the islands.

The Minister said the government was aware of cross border crimes and dispute with Uganda over Migingo was not the only case.

Ms Odhiuiambl and Budfalangi MP Ababu Namwamba re the two MPs who belonged to the communiy loving along the Kenya-Uganda borders on Lake Victoria. Odhiambo hail from Rusinga Island while Namwambva hail from Bunyala in Budalangi constituency in Busia County in Western Prorinvcde an area which is also bordering Uganda extending into the Lake Victoria.

Kibaki pronouncement abut the two disputed island was well received in Kisumu and other parts of the Lake region where the communities depend n fishing and fish trade for their daily breads.

Kenyan fishermen, according to report merging from the area are not allowed by Ugandan to erect any building on the island, and were kept at bay by he armed Ugandan security personnel.

Kibaki broke his long silence over the disputed ownership of the twin fishing islands in Lake Victoria, the world second largest sweet waters lake, which is shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Tanzania has the lion’s share it owned 52 per cent while Uganda 42 per cent with Kenya owning only 6 per cent, mainly along the Nyanza Gulf [previously known as Kivirondo Gulf}.

“I wish to reassure all Kenyans that the two Islands of Migingo and Ugingo lie squarely in Kenyan territorial waters in Lake Victoria. There should be no cause for alarm,” he added.

Kibaki told the cheering audience that security patrol had been stepped up along the country’s frontiers with the neighboring states.

Uganda claims Migingo and Ugingo islands and has since stationed marine police officers to guard the twin islands in total defiance of Kenya’s persistent complaints and opposition to its move.

Migingo’s wealth lies in its proximity to some of the richest remaining deep water fishing places inside Lake Victoria.

Kenyans living on the twin islands have often complained of harassment and that are forced to pay taxes to Uganda so a s to be allowed to go fishing in Lake Victoria.

President Kibaki assurance to the country over security also comes in the wake of the recent killing of 40 Kenyans pastoral community of the Turkana by Merille militias who crossed the border from Ethiopia in early May.

The killing raised tension and criticism of Kenya’s defense forces when the Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the bolder region in the north and accused the military of failing to secure the country’s borders.

Since the killings President Kibaki and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi have met twice.

“We should always remember that Kenya is the biggest promoter of regional integration and had always aspired to live harmoniously with our neighbors.”

“A peaceful region holds much promise for out people who have the greatest potential for our people who have the greatest potential to do business and get jobs across our borders, “said the President.

In his call for diplomacy to end conflicts with the neighboring states, the President assured Kenyans that his government would pursue all the issues through diplomacy to their peaceful conclusions.

Kenya is also facing direct threat by the al-Qeda backed Islamic militias in the neighboring Somalia who on many occasions have issued a threat to attack Kenya for supporting the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.

Ends