A mother stormed a meeting convened by administrators in Moyale, Marsabit County on Wednesday, June 10, demanding information on her son's killing as well as his body.
Regional administrators and police officers were among those present at the forum convened to discuss various issues surrounding security in Moyale.
One of the officials was giving their address when the woman started walking towards the front of the crowd and started shouting questions in the Borana language.
Some of the officers present tried to stop her before one of the administrators intervened, and a translator was brought in to interpret what she was saying.
The woman disclosed that she had been told of her son's death but was unable to access the body, wondering why the situation was so.
As the situation calmed down, she asked to know the circumstances surrounding the killing of her son, revealing her frustration in following up on the issue.
The woman requested the help of the officials present to ensure she got the body to give her son a proper send-off.
"She says her son was killed, and she wants to know where he was killed.
"She also wants to know, if her son's body was found, why she has not been made aware of the body's whereabouts," the translator stated.
Officials present at the forum promised to look into the matter and ensure she gets the necessary assistance.
Significantly, there has been an increased security presence in Moyale which borders Ethiopia as the government cracks down on smuggling of goods and drug-trafficking.
Several smuggling routes have been identified and shut down, with officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) deployed to neighbouring Isiolo County on June 7 as part of the plan.
John Onchomu, head of the ATPU in Nairobi, told reporters of a plan to stop the drug trafficking of substances from Ethiopia, in addition to taking on organized crime and terror.
"We are here to completely eradicate the vice of drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime, contraband smuggling, and terrorism. Young boys are travelling from here to Somalia, that is something we will work on very diligently,
"Also, this narco trade where drugs come from other areas through Merti, Garbatulla to Isiolo must stop. We have enough officers to support the three sub-counties to curb this menace and to eradicate it. That is our plan and strategy as we go forward," he stated.
