Nairobi, Kenya - Kenyans poured into the streets Tuesday to protest the killing of nearly 50 people in the Northern Kenyan border town of Todonyang during an attack by unknown Ethiopian clan militia, the Merrile. The protestors surrounded parliament buildings to demand the immediate deployment of the Kenya Army to Turkana, to enhance the security of the local residents from constant attacks by Ethiopian, Ugandan and South Sudanese militia men.

“We want action,” said Shem Ochuodho, a former parliamentarian. “We do not want to hear the statistics. These are real people who are being killed, they are not just numbers,” he said.

Inside parliament, members moved a motion to allow the House to set aside its regular business to discuss the attacks, which could have killed as many as 50 people and an issue of national importance.

President Mwai Kibaki came under intense pressure for failing to authorize immediate troop deployment to protect the citizens.

“President Kibaki, sitting in the comfort of State House, has not even deployed security forces to protect the people of Turkana,” said Ekuru Aukot, leading the Turkana Professionals Association, which organized the street demonstration.

“This is a situation of failed leadership. This is becoming a national crisis. The coastal part of Kenya is very insecure. It is a case of failure to protect the country’s borders,” Aukot said while alluding to the growing number of border-related incursions into Kenya.

Kenya’s coastal region is under constant pressure of insecurity from Somali militants using the porous border for gun running and other forms of weapon smuggling.

“The leadership in this country is supposed to uphold the constitution. It is a failure of the government. Kenya is becoming a failed state,” he charged.

The Kenyan government has sent a protest note to Ethiopia after the cross-border incursion.

Protestors insisted that sending a protest note to Ethiopia was not enough to assure the locals of their security.

In Parliament, Eugene Wamalwa, an MP, urged the government to effectively respond to the insecurity. “We have heard the lone voice from Turkana crying out for help.”

The lone voice, Turkana North parliamentarian, Ekwe Ethuro, demanded answers.

“We are asking for the security forces to be deployed to the borders, where it matters the most. We are not asking for an assessment mission,” he stated.

Kenyan labour minister John Munyes disputed the government’s assertion that the Todonyang attack left 20 people dead. “It is not just 20 people, it is over 50 people, including my cousin, who were killed,” Munyes said.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said the country was capable of ensuring the protection of its borders.

“This government has demonstrated the resolve to defend the territorial integrity of this country. Iddi Amin (Uganda’s former dictator) tried and he was repulsed,” Saitoti told parliament.

Pana 12/05/2011