No clear evidence Kenya has encroached on Somali territory, Parliament report

A joint foreign relations and interior committee report tabled before parliament yesterday  disputed claims Kenya had encroached into Somalia’s territory in its ongoing construction of security wall.

The report which is based on a fact finding mission in Bula-hawo, Doolow and Elwak also notes that contrary to reports beacons on the border had been removed, there were no indications of the same.

However it noted that there was a ditch and trees felled in the area but could not establish if it was within the Somali or the Kenyan side.

“There is no wall in the said areas but the committee noted a ditch measuring 700 by 4 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep,” read the report in part.

The findings follow a heated debate last week over reports that Kenya had encroached into Somalia’s border with MPs giving the committee a 48 hour ultimatum to censure Kenya and draft a legislation to severe any negotiations with Kenya on the issue until further notice.

However the Speaker, Osman Jawari asked the committee to visit the place in order to get first hand information before making any conclusions.

The committee however recommends further investigations into the matter to establish clearly the boundaries between the two countries. It calls on the government to send a technical team to the areas of Bula-hawo, Doolow, Elwak  to do a clear assessment and make necessary recommendations.

The report also calls for the enactment of a legislation which gives proper guidelines on the country’s land and maritime borders.