[PHOTOS] Murkomen visits Turkana after deadly ambush

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen during his visit of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday visited Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border to assess the security situation following Saturday’s cross-border incident between Kenyans and Dassanech community members of Ethiopia.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen meets area local government administrators during his visit of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Heavily armed militia from the Dassanech tribe in Ethiopia raided areas along the Kenya-Ethiopia border near the Omo River.

The government confirmed the attack but did not disclose the number of fatalities, despite reports suggesting that 20 fishermen were killed.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen addresses residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo cautioned and discouraged the spread of unverified information, emphasising that security concerns should not be sensationalised.

The government has deployed heavy security at the border with Ethiopia following the attack.

A woman walks with her gun after an attack in Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen consulting during his visit of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Murkomen said the government was collaborating with authorities in Ethiopia to find the missing people.

Fishermen from Ethiopia clashed with Kenyan counterparts at the Omo River on Saturday, Turkana County governor Jeremiah Lomorukai said Sunday. Local authorities said 15 boats are missing.

Residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border at a security meeting on February 24, 2025/HNADOUT

Murkomen said Kenya would establish a border post where all people entering would be checked. 

Residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border at a security meeting on February 24, 2025/HNADOUT

Residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border at a security meeting on February 24, 2025/HNADOUT

The Turkana community and the Dassanech community share economic activities such as pastoralism and fishing.

The area in the past has seen livestock raids in the villages.

Residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border walk with the guns after an attack in the area/HANDOUT

Residents of Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border during a security meeting on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT