The killing of a Kenyan woman by a bullet reportedly fired from across the border manifests the growing conflict in southern Ethiopia between the Oromo and Somali communities, which is having devastating consequences in Moyale, Marsabit County.
A government official has confirmed that the woman was struck in the back of the head. Several other cases of stray bullets landing in Kenyan territory have been recorded. Nine people, including two Ethiopians, have been injured by the bullets.
Some rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were found and later safely detonated. The security forces have found unexploded RPGs. The fluid security situation in Moyale calls for alertness and efforts to protect lives.
Besides the influx of thousands of women and children, this insecurity could not have come at a worse time for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, who have had to be relocated from their schools to other centres to continue with the tests
The more than 200 KCSE candidates are now sitting their examinations in a safer place due to the insecurity, but this is likely to adversely affect their performance in the tests.
The extension of the fighting in Ethiopia is causing anxiety and fuelling insecurity for Kenyans. Also adversely affected are truckers and traders on the Kenyan side, whose businesses rely heavily on cross-border transactions and customers from Ethiopia.
Besides hosting more than 25,000 Ethiopians who have fled their country for their safety, tension remains high as stray bullets and RPGs find their way into Kenya.
Since the conflict broke out in Moyale, Ethiopia, nearly a fortnight ago, it has disrupted normal life and businesses. These incidents now call for more stringent security measures by the KDF and other security agencies.
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