NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 — Ministerial level talks between Kenya and Uganda have yielded a consensus on the release of nine Turkana herders imprisoned in Uganda.
Following a high-level security meeting in Moroto on Monday, top officials agreed to petition Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to pardon the herders.
An outcome document circulated on Tuesday indicated Kenya had committed to cooperate and ensure criminals on its side of the border face justice.
The nine herders were linked to the killings of an unspecified number of Ugandan nationals.
“The Kenya Government has made a commitment to collaborate with the Uganda Government in carrying out thorough investigations on the killings of the Uganda nationals by suspected Kenyan herders and ensure criminals who were involved in the killing of the geologists are arrested and prosecuted,” a joint communiqué read.
Kenya’s delegation was led by East Africa Community (EAC) Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano while Uganda was represented by Retired Major General Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Security.
MoU realignment
The Moroto meeting further resolved to review the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries that was signed in September 2019.
The two sides noted a review would align the MoU to emerging issues and operationalize it to ensure sustainable peace and development in the region.
It was also decided that both governments will facilitate the recovery and handover of stolen livestock by deploying adequate security forces on strategic points along the border points.
The operation would take into account specific raiding routes and known hide-outs for bandits.
They further agreed that the Ministry of East Africa Cooperation and ASAL (Kenya) and the Ministry for Karamoja Affairs (Uganda) will immediately nominate members to the Joint Technical Steering Committee to spearhead efforts for resource mobilization and the implementation of the MoU.
The delegation also decided that the Kenya Government will consider mechanisms to strengthen the military liaison office in Karamoja by extending its current stay.
“The County government of Turkana will consider establishing a Civilian Liaison Office in Karamoja as a bridge between security and civil administration in resolving day to day issues affecting Turkana herders in Karamoja,” the joint communique further provided.
The meeting also agreed that the county governments of Turkana and West Pokot and Karamoja district administrations will constitute a Joint Committee to support the national Joint Technical Steering Committee in the implementation of the MoU at sub-national levels.
Miano was accompanied by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, State House Deputy Chief of Staff Josphat Nanok, Kenya Army Commander Lt. Gen. Peter Njiru among other officials.
