PRESIDENT KIBAKI’S FIRST COMMENT ON THE DISPUTED MIGINGO ISLAND CAME AMID REPORTS OF
FRESH INCURSION BY UGANDAN SOLDIERS INTO THE COUNTRY’S MAINLAND AT MUHURU BAY.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Sori Town, Karungu Bay {SUNDAY]

PRESIDENT Mwai Kibaki last Friday for the first time, alluded to the possibility of use of force in his strongest public statement yet on the dispute with Uganda over Migingo Island..

He said Kenya will use every means possible to defend itself against any external
aggression in a statement seen by observers as a clear reference to the simmering
diplomatic row with Uganda.

“Let me make it abundantly clear, Kenya will use every means to defend her national
integrity and welfare of her people, “said the President who is also the Commander-In-Chief of his country’s armed forces.

Kibaki made these remarks while presiding during Officer Cadets Commissioning Parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru.

The President also expressed confidence in the ability of the Kenya armed forces against any external aggression. But he was, however quick to add that as a nation Kenya would continue to seek peaceful co-existence with its neighbors
“As stated previously our first line of action must always be the diplomacy as means of advancing peace in our region and the world.’
President Kibaki was, however, emphatically clear in his mind when he told the newly
recruited military officers that the main and task of the armed forces was to secure the national border, adding that Kenya should remain vigilant in order to ensure security of her people because of threats to the modern world were varied and sophisticated..

Kibaki cited the situation in some of the neighboring countries as being fluid and posed security challenge, especially in terms of inflow of illicit arms into Kenya.
But as President Kibaki was talking to his military officers, reports filtering in from Nyatike district, which is the both mainland and Lake Victoria frontier between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda stating that a contingent of Ugandan soldiers using speedboat had landed at Muhuru Bay in pursuit of Kenyan fishermen on what apparently appear to be an extortion mission..

Heavily armed and clad in their country military uniform and color, the Ugandan soldiers were reported to have been chasing Kenyan fishermen demanding to be paid a bribe of Kshs 20,000 because the fishermen had trespassed into Ugandan waters, though the fishermen insisted they were right inside Kenyan territorial waters. The soldiers came from Migingo Island about 40 kilometers away. They caused panicking among the fishermen at the usually busy Muhuru Bay beaches as the word spread around of the presence of Ugandan soldiers.

Other reports reaching here, says Ugandan security officers based on Migingo Island have seized houses belonging to Kenyan fishermen and traders operating on the island.

Its says the soldiers have grabbed and confiscated the houses and converted them into their own dwelling houses free=of-charge and have refused to pay any rent for the houses. The houses mainly temporary sharks built on the rocky one acre island are usually rented out to visiting businessmen and women for between Kshs 200 nd Kshs 300 per day..

But a senior Ugandan security officer reached by mobile phone said the move was just a temporary measure, while they awaited for the resolution of the ownership row currently being undertaken by the joint technocrat teams from Kenya and Uganda, and thereafter the houses would be returned to the rightful owners…

But a spot check has revealed that a survey team expected to determine the ownership of the disputed Migingo Island is yet to take off two weeks after its colorful launching in Nairobi. The launching ceremony was attended by cabinet Minister from both Kenya and Uganda plus a large number of top government officials from the two countries.

It has been established that the Ugandan team, which had promised to get back to the
Kenyan experts on the joint funding before the two teams set a date to embark on the
survey work has gone silent However, the old British colonial documents including description of the two countries territorial boundaries as contained in the Kenya Colony and Protectorate [Boundaries] Order in Council,1926, which is not disputed by either sides are clear on where Islands on the border are.

From the tri-junction, the border runs northerly to the most westerly part of Pyramid
Island.

In order to locate Migingo position, the joint team is expected to interpret the boundary which the Order in Council says runs from the tri-junction to the most southerly part of Sio River. The tri-junction is where the Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania border meet on Lake Victoria. From the tri-junction, the border runs northerly to the most westerly part of Pyramid island.

The Order in Council says from Pyramid the border moves northwards in a straight line to the most westerly part of Llemba or Remba Island, from where it proceeds further north to the most westerly part of Kiringitii[Ringiti Island]

Earlier last week the Ugandan security forces had issued a stern warning to Kenyan
fishermen operating from the nearby Ringiti and Remba islands not to trespass into
Ugandan waters.

The officers who are based on Migingo island told Kenyan fishermen that they would carry regular day and night patrols to arrest and prosecute those who violated the order.

ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 21:14:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: PRESIDENT KIBAKI SPEAKS ON MIGINGGO DISPUTE