Page 67 - MANDERA-COUNTY- THE 2019 MAGAZINE

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Deputy Governor Ahmed Arai with security team when they visited Mandera
to monitor the progress on the border wall project.

Securing the border

order Point 1 in Mandera County, the tion,” said Ministry of Defence Principal
boundary between Kenya, Ethiopia Secretary Saitoti Torome
Band Somalia has been frequently
visited by national security organs - it is a During the members of the BBI team’s visit
point where the border securitization pro- the military explained that the construction
gramme commenced in the efforts to tame of the wall which stretches over 700 kilo-
acts of terrorism. meters had been temporarily suspended
due to structures constructed on the two
National Assembly Defence and Foreign countries common border at Bulahawa but
Relations Committee, Inspector General of expressed optimism that the construction
the police force and the members of Build- would resume soon.
ing Bridges to Unity Advisory Task Force
chaired by Wajir Senator Yusuf Haji visited Members of the BBI also expressed opti-
Border Point 1 at different times and ex- mism that the securitization of the border
pressed satisfaction with the way the wall would go a long way in improving security
was being constructed. in the area but expressed concern about
individuals building their homesteads too into Mandera at will, caused mayhem and returned to war-torn
The chairman of the Parliamentary Com- close to the wall. Somalia uninterrupted. However, the construction of the wall
mittee on Defence, Katoo ole Metito, ex- and increased security personnel including police reservists
pressed satisfaction with the securitization “During my time as a District Officer in the have played a key role in scaling down insecurity incidents.
programme and expressed optimism that area, there was a two kilometre no-man’s
it would lead to lasting peace and foster zone where no structures were allowed The local community has suffered too from the consequences
faster development in the region. but the case is now different and people of terror cells either by being killed in suspicious and unex-
are building too close to the boundary. plained circumstances, or through economic sanctions which
“We appreciate the developments in Man- This should be discouraged,” said Haji. have left them helpless. To address terror incidents in the area,
dera and the progress made in the border the Governor created the Department of Deradicalization and
securitization programme. Thank you of- Non-locals have been the main targets of Countering Violent Extremism in 2018.
fice of the Governor for your warm recep- the extremists, who for long have crossed