WFP notes rising insecurity

Although the Kenyan government was endeavouring to tackle crime, the country’s recent drought, resultant animal losses [among pastoralists] and traditional tribal conflict, meshed with political manoeuvrings for elections scheduled for next year, had contributed to a rise in the incidence of insecurity outside the capital, Nairobi, through this year, WFP stated in its emergency situation report on 17 August. The situation was exacerbated by small arms entering the country, increasing unemployment and inflation, it said. The agency cited reports from several districts that pastoralists had moved livestock to traditional dry season grazing areas earlier than normal, or had crossed the borders into Ethiopia and Somalia in search of pasture.

In July, UNOCHA Kenya expressed concern about an increase in ethnic clashes throughout the country. In July alone, it said, there were an estimated 19 deaths related to ethnic conflicts in Moyale, Turkana, Trans Mara, Tana River and Nairobi, and violent crime continued to plague the entire country. Insecurity was a particular concern in the border area of Wajir, where it was affecting humanitarian access, the agency reported. Since Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi’s closure of the border between Kenya and Somalia on 28 July in a stated attempt to curb the influx of arms into Kenya, there had been threats from Somalis in Somalia to hijack vehicles in Kenyan districts along the border, OCHA reported. The UN had issued a “high-alert” security caution to humanitarian workers in border districts, and recommended that “extreme caution” be exercised when travelling close to the border, it stated.