Border conflict:
Prime Minister Raila Odinga
asks Uganda to pull out of
Migingo Island
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked Uganda to respect Kenya’s territorial boundaries and stop claiming to own Migingo Island.
He said information and maps dating as far back as 1926 indicated that the island was in Kenya, adding that the dispute over its ownership should not, therefore, arise.
Mr Odinga said the Migingo issue should not be allowed to mar the existing good relations among East African countries. He asked Ugandan authorities to withdraw their troops and lower their flag that is currently flying on the island.
Said the PM: “The Kenyan portion of Lake Victoria is only six per cent, it is therefore unfair for our neighbours, who have huge areas, to want to annex part of our tiny portion.”
Mr Odinga was speaking at Nangina Girls High School in Samia District, where he was the guest of honour during the district’s Education Day. He said Kenya will not negotiate with Uganda over Migingo until the country brought down its flag.
“We will not talk to Uganda as long as the flag remains flying on the island. Even in water we have international boundaries which we must respect,” he said.
“Kenya has all the documents indicating that the island belongs to it. Even the Ugandan constitution states clearly where the boundary was. So whatever argument Uganda is going to use, they are not going to get a single document to defend their case,” said Mr Odinga.
The comments came as surveyors engaged by both countries got down to work to help find a solution to the border row. Roads minister Franklin Bett urged his Cabinet colleagues to stand firm to ensure the island remained within the Kenyan territory.
Source: Daily Nation (Kenya)
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