Kenya - Somalia border point at Mandera to be reopened after 10 years

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki says the Kenya - Somalia border point in Mandera County that has remained shut for over a decade will be reopened in two months' time.

The CS directed the immigration department and the customs drawn from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to itemise their needs in construction tooling and kitting ahead of the reopening.

The Mandera border control post has remained shut for more than 10 years, with no customs or immigration services rendered between Mandera in Kenya and Bula Hawo town in neighbouring Somalia.

This situation is about to change in the next two months; the post was CS Kindiki’s first stop in his two-day security tour of North Eastern Kenya.

Accompanied by Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration Police Noor Gabow, his GSU counterpart Douglas Kanja and Immigration Director General Alexander Muteshi, the leaders had good news for the people of Mandera who for long have agitated for the reopening of the border.

“Vitengo vyote vya serikali ambavyo viko hapa, ikiwemo idara ya uhamiaji na ushuru, waniletee michoro na ile kazi ambayo inatakikana kufanywa wiki moja kutoka leo, ili tuanze kazi ya kurekebishe hapa border, na hivi karibuni baada ya mwezi mmoja ama mbili, nikuje hapa tufungue hii border yetu,” said the CS.

Prof. Kindiki stated that a boom in business between the two countries will come in handy in the war on terror and contraband goods getting through unofficial crossings.

“Mkipatiwa njia, hamtakuwa mnaomba mtu chochote, mtajitengenezea mali yenu, na ata hii shida kidogo kidogo itaisha,” he stated.

With security remaining the biggest challenge in North Eastern Kenya, CS Kindiki directed the various agencies operating in the region to involve the community through National Police Reservists in their operations.

“Tuongeze National Police Reservists hapa washirikiane na officers wa kawaida, security team, na kila kiongozi hapa ili tuangamize mambo ya magaidi na wakora kutoka nchi jirani na hata wa hapa kwetu, kwa sababu adui ni adui,” stated CS Kindiki.

The CS also made a stop at Takaba, approximately 230km from Mandera, where he held a security meeting with officers drawn from different formations of special units within the National Police Service, thanking them for the good job they have done keeping the enemy at bay.

“I also know we haven’t done rotation, but now that we have officers who passed out we will organise that in a month’s time,” he stated.

In Wajir, the CS was taken through initiatives by officers and local leaders to engage the youth in sporting activity to combat violent extremism and radicalization.