Marsabit Senator tells Senate that escalating violence in Ethiopia has displaced thousands, exposed Kenyan border residents to cross-border attacks and triggered a humanitarian crisis in Moyale.
By Ahmed Salat Ali political Affairs
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute has called for urgent government intervention following escalating clashes between Oromo and Somali communities in Ethiopia, warning that the deteriorating security situation is increasingly spilling across the international border and threatening the safety of Kenyan citizens.
In a statement to the Senate pursuant to Standing Order 52(1), Chute raised concerns over the security, humanitarian and socio-economic implications of the conflict for residents of Moyale Constituency and the wider Marsabit County.
The senator attributed the escalation to longstanding territorial and administrative disputes, which he said had intensified in recent weeks, leaving a trail of deaths, destruction of property and widespread displacement.
He cautioned that the repercussions of the violence were no longer confined to Ethiopian territory, with communities on the Kenyan side increasingly exposed to stray bullets and explosive ordnance originating from across the border.
Of particular concern, Chute cited the death of Amina Guchi, a Kenyan citizen who was fatally struck by a stray bullet on November 2, 2026, while at the Marsabit County Government offices in Moyale.
“The tragic death of the late Amina Guchi underscores the seriousness of the threat,” Chute told the Senate, warning that the incident illustrated the grave security risks confronting residents of the border town.
He further informed the House that other Kenyan citizens had reportedly sustained injuries, while families had suffered property destruction and displacement, underscoring the need for a coordinated response to protect communities living along the frontier.
Beyond the security concerns, the senator painted a troubling picture of the humanitarian situation, disclosing that an estimated 50,000 displaced Ethiopians had sought refuge in Moyale and neighbouring areas.
The influx, he observed, had placed an enormous strain on already vulnerable host communities, with displaced families facing acute shortages of food, safe drinking water, shelter, sanitation facilities and essential healthcare services.
Chute noted that women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities were bearing a disproportionate share of the humanitarian burden, calling attention to their heightened vulnerability amid the unfolding crisis.
He commended Moyale residents for demonstrating solidarity and extending refuge to families escaping the violence but warned that the generosity of local communities was being stretched to its limits.
“Regardless of the underlying causes, no dispute can justify the continued loss of innocent lives, forced displacement of civilians or destruction of livelihoods,” he told the Senate.
The senator’s intervention brings renewed parliamentary attention to the security vulnerabilities of Kenya’s border communities and the wider implications of instability in neighbouring Ethiopia.
He maintained that the protection of Kenyan lives, preservation of livelihoods and humanitarian welfare of displaced populations must remain central to the response to the unfolding crisis.
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