Border security beefed up after Ethiopian solders kill Kenyan police officers

Kenya Army soldiers and police officers have been deployed along the Kenya-Ethiopia border in Sololo, Marsabit County following the killing of three police officers by Ethiopian soldiers last Friday.

The Ethiopian soldiers entered Kenyan territory and shot dead three police officers, destroyed a police vehicle and made away with four firearms in Anona, Marsabit County.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Marsabit County Commissioner Moffat Kangi said the army, General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit officers were securing Ramole and Anona along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

The bodies of the three police officers were flown to Nairobi from Moyale on Saturday morning.

The Ethiopian troops are said to have been pursuing members of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) accused of killing an Ethiopian chief, when they attacked the Kenya police officers.

However, the county commissioner said they were yet to establish why the Ethiopian soldiers crossed into Kenya yet there are laid down protocols for addressing cross-border security issues.

Mr Kangi said a cross-border security meeting will soon be held where Kenya will put Ethiopia to task over the incursion.

“The situation is calm now because the army and police are holding ground along the border. We want to ensure no militia crosses into the country and that our people are safe.

“All cross-border issues are supposed to be addressed at diplomatic level, hence we will be seeking an explanation from Ethiopia on why this happened. We want to know why they engaged our police yet we have never intruded into their territory,” Mr Kangi said.

He said that Kenya has not received any complaint from Ethiopia relating to security issues hence the invasion was unwarranted.

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