Daily Nation
Sunday, January 28, 2001
By DAVID MUGONYI and WAWERU MUGO

Moyale leaders yesterday asked the Government to arm the community with guns against invaders from Ethiopia.

Assistant ministers Guracha Galgalo and Abdullahi Wako said the Boran community should arm themselves if the Government fails to do so.

They urged the Government to sever diplomatic relations with Ethiopia until persistent acts of hostility are stopped.

The leaders were speaking during a charged fund-raising meeting in Nairobi's Kenyatta International Conference Centre in aid of displaced victims of the recent raid of Kiltipe Manyatta, Uran Division, that left 600 people camping at a refugee centre.

"We want the Government to give us guns. It's imperativ e for all those living on boundaries to be given the latest model of weapons," Dr Wako said, alleging that communities such as the Pokot, the Turkana and those of Marsabit were armed.

During the raid, two weeks ago, 10 Kenyans were killed, among them eight policemen.

At the same time, the community urged Nairobi to block the Ethiopian government from using the Mombasa port or they would sabotage trade relations between the two countries.

Dr Galgalo demanded that Addis release Mr Halake alive. "We want Dulacha back alive or else the Government should take military action against Ethiopia."

The leaders, who included Moyale County Council chairman Bodicha Galgalo and youth leader Yusuf Huka Jillo, refuted claims that they were giving sanctuary to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

They accused the official Addis of targeting the Boran community because they are themselves Oromo.

Dr Galgalo wondered how the Office of the President Minister in charge of Internal Security, Mr Marsden Madoka, could confirm that the community harboured the OLF when none of the people killed in the region could be singled out as a member of the OLF.

"If Mr Madoka is worth his salt as minister in charge of internal security, let him bring back Dulacha alive and not engage in hot air," the Assistant Health Minister said. Dr Wako, who is Assistant Medical Services Minister, said the community was ready to fight any tribe passing propaganda messages to the Ethiopian government that the Boran community is giving sanctuary to the OLF.

Meanwhile, a Kenyan policeman who was captured two weeks ago by Ethiopian militia has been released.

Mr Dulacha Halake was released yesterday afternoon as jubilant Moyale residents sang in praise of his release.

Mr Halake was handed over to District Commissioner Clement Kiteme by a Mr Alegeta, the Ethiopian Central government representative in Southern region. The administration policeman said he was not injured, outgoing Moyale police chief Joseph Munyao told the Nation on phone.

Mr Munyao said the Ethiopian government also surrendered six guns seized from six officers who were killed.

He was being held at Indilola military camp, about five kilometres from the border town of Moyale.