Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified why the government has yet to confirm the number of people killed during the February 22, 2025, Todonyang attack in Turkana County. Speaking in Lodwar on Wednesday during the 15th edition of the Jukwaa la Usalama county tours, Murkomen attributed the delay to challenges in verifying the status of those reported missing.
The CS revealed that some of the victims are believed to have drowned in Lake Turkana after being ambushed by suspected Dassanech militia from neighbouring Ethiopia during a routine fishing expedition. He emphasized that without recovering the bodies, it is legally and procedurally impossible to declare individuals dead.
“You can only say they are missing. You cannot legally declare them dead unless there is confirmation,” Murkomen stated.
He added that some reports even indicate that a few victims may still be alive across the border, although these claims remain unverified.
Murkomen also cited the complexity of tracking the victims, noting that not all of them were from Todonyang. Some had traveled from other parts of Turkana, including Kitale, Lodwar, and Kipish, adding to the difficulty in ascertaining the total number of casualties.
“Tunataka kusaidiana na wananchi kule Todonyang watupatie idadi ya wale tunajua ukweli walikuwa wanafanya fishing hapo na walipatana kwa hiyo janga ya mapigano,” he urged, appealing for cooperation from the local community to help verify the identities and origins of the missing persons.
In response to rising security concerns, Murkomen acknowledged residents’ calls for increased protection but pointed out budgetary constraints. Nonetheless, he proposed the deployment of a multi-agency security team to Todonyang, which he described as a strategic area crucial for cross-border trade, fishing, and livestock activities.
“Todonyang is a key entry point… but it also suffers from boundary encroachment due to poor security presence. This is an issue we must address conclusively,” he said.
Murkomen was scheduled to hold a town hall meeting with local leaders, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and security personnel at the Ekales Cultural Centre following a detailed security briefing.
