Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has cited complex land ownership issues as the main reason for the delay in establishing a permanent Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) base in Turkana East.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Tuya explained that the targeted land falls under communal tenure, meaning it is owned collectively by the local community. Such land requires multiple clearances from both the Turkana County Government and the National Land Commission (NLC) before any formal allocation can be made.
“We have faced delays because the land belongs to the community, and is held under communal tenure, requiring county government facilitation and National Land Commission processing,” Tuya told MPs.
She assured lawmakers that while the permanent base is yet to be set up, border security is still being maintained through alternative measures. Mobile KDF detachments have been deployed to strategic points along the Kenya–Ethiopia border to deter incursions, while police presence in the area has been bolstered.
“Border security is not entirely dependent on land acquisition, but having a permanent base will improve rapid response. In the meantime, we have deployed mobile detachments to strategic points along the border,” Tuya said.
The CS noted that talks with Turkana County officials are ongoing to speed up the allocation process, stressing that a permanent KDF presence is critical in preventing cross-border attacks.
Her remarks come in the wake of the February 2025 Todonyang attack, which prompted the Ministry of Defence to intensify security operations in Turkana East. Measures implemented since include reinforcing police units, increasing helicopter patrols, and improving information-sharing among security agencies.
“We are committed to increasing military presence and improving rapid response capacity. The security of Kenyans is our top priority,” she affirmed.
Tuya added that the government has also reinforced existing security posts to ensure continuity of operations while the base plans are finalised.
“Security operations will continue uninterrupted as we work to establish a permanent base,” she assured the committee.
Once established, the Turkana East KDF base is expected to significantly enhance surveillance, deterrence, and operational efficiency in safeguarding Kenya’s northern border.
