The row between Kenya and Somalia appears to be taking a wild turn as reports alleging that some individuals were angling to benefit from the ocean gather steam.
The claims that some individual were manipulating the whole issue for their own benefit elicited reactions among Kenyans with many expressing their disappointment at the turn of events - even though they remain allegations.
Further details of the report alleges that there are cartels from overseas working with their counter parts in Somalia to possess the rich Kenyan coastal area.
A woman of Norwegian origin was mentioned - in a report that has lit up the internet - with Kenyans taking keen interest in the whole matter for the first time.
Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi weighed in on the debate - and seemed to point out that the report was a well orchestrated effort by individuals to muddy the waters.
Ahmednasir laughed off the claims which appeared to drag his name in the matter, and went on to question how an ordinary person like him could be involved in such complex issues.
He also added that Kenya was wasting its resource in propagating such claims instead of fighting for its rightful ownership of the Indian Ocean which is said to be a rich source of gas reserves.
“Instead of fighting the maritime case at the Hague...this is what some agents of Kenya are wasting PUBLIC MONEY on...blaming foreign states like Norway and poor folks like the Grand Mulla,” Ahmednasir shared through his social media account.
Kenyans reacted to the claims saying that news of cartels involvement in the Kenya – Somalia row was not surprising.
“We thought they were joking from the start, but now they have shown they are very serious about it. The Government of the Republic of Kenya should stamp it's authority and protect our territorial border at all coast,” Otieno Gilbert commented.
“It’s heartbreaking to see where greed is taking African countries. Behaving like toddlers and exuding all signs of an infantile civilization,” Frederick said in disappointment.
Others questioned the government’s decision to outsource legal representation on the matter using taxpayers money when it was not actively defending its territory.
“Foolish Kenyans, when your government steals your taxes and even steals loans borrowed, you're silent, now Somali demands what's theirs and you start complaining,” Mbugua said.
The unconfirmed claims come even as Somalia finalized there oral submission in the absence of Kenya who withdrew from the case.
Initially, Kenya had also said that there was an influential third party with commercial interests, who were fueling the case, adding that the case would affect the peace and security of Somalia.
Kenya had also cited the case of Somalian Citizen, Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf, who previously represented Somalia at the Third United Nations Conference on the law of the sea, and who is now sitting at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Kenya has remained confident in its position that the maritime boundary was established in 1979, and which has been in existence until in 2014 when Somalia breached the agreement.
