Protesting youth in Kapoeta East County, Eastern Equatoria State. (Photo: Courtesy).

Legislators from Eastern Equatoria State parliament have warned of an alleged plan by the Kenyan government to illegally settle its citizens in Nadapal and Nakodok areas, in Kapoeta East County.

The lawmakers raised alarm after the natives protested on Thursday, when the Kenyan forces were seen crossing into South Sudan “to establish presence in the area.”

Two thousand people demonstrated on main roads before the foreign forces disembarked from the area.

On the same day, Kenya’s Cabinet Security of the country’s Interior and Administration Ministry flew to Turkana where he met with top security officers.

Kithura Kindiki was also received by Turuka Governor Jeremiah Lomuruka.

Speaking to the Kenyan Television, the official vowed to beef up security by ensuring an additional 100 contingent forces are trained and deployed in Nakodok area.

According to him, the present of armed bandits from South Sudan have obstructed a completion of a ten-kilometer highway to the border of South Sudan.

However, reacting to the matter, MP Hellen Orazio, who represents Nakodok area in the state Legislative assembly accused the Kenyan government of inciting the border communities against one another

She said the Kenyan government exported the Turkana Locals to Nakokod area to take advantage of the situation.

“On the issue of the border, we were surprised the government of Kenya brought their citizens to come up to Nakodok,” she said.

“I’m asking the national government if they are responsibility over the issue of border, let them hurry up because we do not know conflict between the communities. We want peace between us and Kenya. Now we are seeing incitement from the governed of Kenya for the two communities to clash.”

For his part, lawmaker Visor Likale Olum blamed the national government over its silence over the matter, saying it is weakening the countries territorial integrity.

“I would like to put this message forward to the national government since we in the state here, our hands have been tied that the issues of the border are not our responsibility. It is the mandate of the national government.”

“The silence of the government on this matter, it is weakening the territorial integrity of this country as if there is no government. We need the intervention of the national government so that we dialogue with the government of Kenya.”

Meanwhile, lawmaker Jeff Longniro Lohiti calls for an immediate intervention from President Salva kiir on the matter.

“We are expecting the national government to use the international border community of which it did not updated the community in the ground especially when you come to this side of Nimule, but the most dangerous is the one taking place in Nadapal. So, we are seeking immediate intervention from President Salva kiir Mayardit.”

The MPs spoke to the state government radio, The voice of Eastern Equatoria.

Nakodok falls within the disputed Ellemi triangle in the north-east of the south of South Sudan.

Sometimes called only Olemi, the area measures approximately 11,000 square kilometers between the two countries.

The area, which is named after Anuak chief Olemi Akwon, also borders Ethiopia and, despite its use and “trespass” into the triangle by border tribes from within Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government has never made any official claim on the Ilemi.

Ethiopia agrees that the land was allocated to Sudan in the 1902, 1907, and 1972 treaties.