Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula. Photo by: Nation
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula has said that the country will continue to vet foreigners fleeing neighbouring Somali to ensure only genuine refugees are given sanctuary.
Wetang’ula appealed to Kenyans in districts that lie on the routes leading to Somali to be on the lookout for aliens who could threaten national security.
Speaking in Kitui Town at the weekend, the minister said it was the responsibility of all Kenyans to expose foreigners who entered the country illegally with small-arms and other weapons and endangered the lives of Kenyans.
He pointed out that Kenya was signatory to international pacts on refugees but the provision was not a blank cheque to allow all those fleeing from Somali to infiltrate the country.
“We cannot forget the 1998 bomb blast in Nairobi and the Kikambala blast that were perpetrated by terrorist outfits and all Kenyans must report foreigners of doubtful character,†said the Sirisia MP.
Last week, 17 illegal aliens were arrested in Nzeluni area, Mwingi district as the bus that was ferrying them from Garissa attempted to use panya route to evade a police check along Thika-Garissa road.
The arrest brought the number of illegal Somali nationals apprehended while trying to enter the country to 63 in the last four weeks.
On politics, the foreign affairs minister castigated leaders who were bent on re-introducing tribal animosities by purporting to unite various ethnic communities.
“We must avoid ethnic faults at all cost and heal the country that suffered post-election violence based on tribes,†said Wetangula.
He presided over a fundraiser for New Life Happiness Ministries Church in Kitui Town, where he donated Sh140,000 including Sh20,000 from Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Sh10,000 from water minister Charity Ngilu and Sh10,000 from Ambassador Yvonne Khamati.
