Ugingo and Migingo in Kenya, says PS

Monday, 30 May 2011 00:03 BY BRIAN OTIENO

PLAN: Internal Security Minister George Saitoti with his PS Francis Kimemia during a meeting in Mombasa.

Internal Ministry Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia said there is great need for Kenya to guard its water resources for the benefit of the locals and the country as a whole. He revealed that efforts are in place to ensure patrols along lakes Victoria and Turkana are intensified.
This comes a few weeks after reports that Ugandans had invaded Ugingo Island near the disputed Migingo. The Ugandans are moving into the island under the protection of Ugandan soldiers. But Kimemia yesterday denied that the island was invaded. “There was no invasion in Ugingo. There were just 16 illegal settlements in the island. What’s important is for the people to be informed about systematic procedures to settle in an area,” said Kimemia.
The PS said Ugandans have no stake in Migingo, Ugingo and Pyramid islands that lie next to each other. He said the three islands are exclusively Kenyan. Last year, there was a much publicized controversy over the ownership of Migingo Island on the waters Lake Victoria.
Internal Security minister George Saitoti said the Kenya Police Marine Unit, which was formed in 2007 to deal with criminal activities along the Kenyan Coastline, will be expanded to cover Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria.
He said threats against Kenyan borders and along the Coast line necessitated the expansion. “We shall not entertain any attempt to violate our territorial boundaries,” said Saitoti, during the commissioning of three police patrol boast in Mombasa.