Tension is high in Todonyang in Turkana North District after suspected Ethiopian Merille militiamen attacked a medical facility on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
The heavily armed militia, estimated at 100, crossed into the neighbouring Kenya border and surrounded the Catholic mission hospital.
They sprayed the buildings with bullets shattering glass windows panes, doors and destroyed drugs storage racks.
A church worker who witnessed the attack said the militiamen opened fire at the facility for nearly an hour before they escaped towards a neighbouring village across the border near River Omo.
Just watched
There were no medical personnel or patients at the facility during the attack. A witness said Kenya security officers including a General Service Unit and an Administration Police from the Rapid Deployment Unit manning the border post watched the attack from a distance.
A Catholic cleric who also spoke on condition of anonymity said the medical facility serves sick security officers and locals in the area.
The prelate added that they also provide outreach medical services across the border, which benefits neighbouring Ethiopian Merille tribesmen along the Omo delta.
“Why should they destroy a facility that gives them outreach medical services,” the cleric posed.
Turkana North OCPD Bernard Nyakwaka confirmed the incident saying the militiamen had extensively damaged the facility.
Mr Nyakwaka said they have mobilised security personnel to secure the border and flush out the militiamen. “Nobody was injured in the incident and we have secured the area to deter further incursions,” Nyakwaka said.
For many years, Todonyang border town has been known for bloody conflicts. The militiamen have displaced residents and taken control of fishing activity in Lake Turkana and pasture on the Kenyan border.
Several people have been killed and dozens have fled their homes in Todonyang border town following rampant Merille attacks.
The Kenya Government deployed security personnel in Todonyang last year after more than 40 people were massacred by the militia in a single incident.
But the militiamen have not been deterred by the presence of security officers along the Kenya-Ethiopia border, and continue to attack and kill security officers and locals.
Earlier this year, Merille militia surrounded an AP camp at Todonyang border post and shot dead three officers and injured five others.Former area civic leader Osman Eleman said they have been forced to flee their homes following attacks by the militia.
Mr Eleman said the attackers have also vandalised Todonyang Primary School forcing the teachers to close the institution.“Teachers have relocated children to other safer schools in the area,” Eleman said.Kenya and Ethiopia governments have embarked on a joint plan to redraw their border and restore fallen beacons.
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