{{Kenya’s National Assembly’s committee on Defence and Foreign Relations has demanded release of the report of the joint survey that was carried out on Migingo Island.}}
The committee has indicated that it will summon Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed to make clear the status of the survey that was conducted by Kenya and Uganda following tension between the two countries both laying claim of ownership of the island.
Members of the committee made the demands as the Africa Human Rights Bureau Executive Director Dan Alila asked the Kenyan Parliament, both the Senate and the National Assembly, to approve military action against the Ugandan security forces who are occupying both the Migingo and Ugingo islands.
Mr Alila, a Kenyan, said in a petition to the parliamentary committee that the two islands are on Kenyan waters.
“Suitable measures must be undertaken to protect the citizens, defend Kenya’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and private property,” he said in his petition.
In a meeting with the committee Tuesday, Mr Alila said the Uganda security forces stationed at both Migingo and Ugingo have been harassing Kenyans.
The human rights activist wants Kenya to establish a permanent Naval Base on the disputed island, claiming various human rights abuses were being committed on the island.
He claimed torture, arbitrary arrests and even rape have been taking place at the island for over ten years now.
Committee chairman Ndungu Gethenji said the committee will officially write to invite the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary to produce all the necessary information related to the disputed ownership of the islands.
In particular the committee wants details of the joint survey that was meant to determine the territorial boundaries in the Lake Victoria.
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said that Ugandan troops have practically taken over the island.
“…the Ugandan government has militarized the borders. Its troops attack and loot from people in Bondo and disappear in the waters,” he said.
Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said the government has a responsibility to secure its borders. His Fafi counterpart Barre Shill questioned why the survey report had not been made public.
“The report may have been swept under the carpet… but as long as our people continue staying there and we continue to claim that the island is ours, we must solve the issue,” he said.
wirestory
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