Two bodies were on Wednesday evening recovered in Todonyang as authorities intensify efforts to locate missing Kenyans after more than 20 fishermen were massacred in the area.
The update was issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen following concerns that Ethiopian authorities were hindering the search efforts due to communication barrier with their Kenyan counterparts.
According to Murkomen, the two recovered were a man and a woman, approximately in their late 20s or early 30s.
“Further to my earlier update on the ongoing search for missing Kenyans following the Todonyang incident, I would like to report that two bodies of a man and a woman, estimated to be aged between their late 20s and early 30s, have been recovered,” part of the statement read.
“The Government stands in solidarity with those who have lost their loved ones and those whose family members are still unaccounted for,” he added.
Murkomen reiterated that poor communication remained a concern from the Ethiopian side, but he lauded officials for their commitment to the cause and for allowing the Kenyan authorities access to the area.
“I also thank the Ethiopian government for allowing our officials full access to the area, which has aided the recovery and the continued search for the missing persons and boats,” he stated.
“The Government is doing everything possible to account for all missing persons while at the same time engaging with the Ethiopian authorities to restore lasting peace and cohesion in the area.”
He concluded the statement by announcing that the government would continue issuing further updates as they develop.
On Saturday, February 22, more than 20 fishermen were killed at the Todonyang border point in Lake Turkana by the Dassanech militia.
Although the motive has not yet been determined, initial reports indicated that the attack may have been a retaliatory strike following an earlier incident in which a well-known bandit shot and killed three Dassanech fishermen in Turkana on Saturday morning.
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