Turkana attack: Two bodies found as Ethiopia grants access to Kenyan rescuers

Two bodies have been recovered in a search and rescue effort for more than 20 missing Kenyan citizens that began Wednesday on Ethiopian grounds.

This comes more than 96 hours after a cross-border attack in Todonyang along the Kenya-Ethiopia border by suspected Dassanech militia from Ethiopia.

Kenyan rescuers were allowed full access into Ethiopia in order to trace Turkana fishermen who were attacked on Saturday.

Until today, Kenyan authorities had not accessed the scene of the incident.

The deal with Ethiopian authorities was revealed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. It follows successful diplomatic talks between officials from both sides that lasted all day on Tuesday.

“Today, the team from the Kenyan side, working with their Ethiopian counterparts, accessed the area of the incident and are currently searching for the missing persons and 15 boats,” he said in a statement.

While visiting Todonyang on Monday, the CS had directed the formation of a team led by the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan to negotiate with Ethiopian authorities to facilitate access to the Ethiopian side. 

The team will also coordinate peacebuilding activities to calm tensions on the Kenya-Ethiopia border, said the CS who was accompanied by East African Community Affairs and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul, Turkana Senator James Lomenen, Turkana North MP Ekwom Nabuin and other security officials.

“We stand in solidarity with the families whose loved ones are unaccounted for and appeal for calm. We will give another update on the progress of the search and rescue efforts in due course,” the CS said.

'Poor communication'

The attacked Kenyans were on a routine fishing mission in Lake Turkana.

According to CS Murkomen, information about the attack reached Kenyan authorities late at night due to poor communication on the Ethiopian side.

“Frantic efforts were made immediately by the local security agencies in Turkana County to establish the magnitude of the attack. On Sunday 23rd February 2025, a reporting desk was established at the Todonyang GSU camp for residents to report missing persons. A security team led by the Turkana County Commissioner made contact with Ethiopian authorities who promised them access to the Ethiopian side to commence search and rescue operation,” he said. 

Preliminary reports show that the attack was a retaliation to an earlier incident where three fishermen from the Dassenech community were shot dead.

Residents of Todonyang, however, have faulted the government over the limited presence of security officers at the border.

cwafula@ke.nationmedia.com