Fears as police launch Operation Ondoa Jangili targeting OLA gang in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties

There are fears of clashes after multi-agency teams Monday launched a special security operation dubbed ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’ to flush out hideouts used by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) within Marsabit and Isiolo counties.

The operation was launched after both Kenya and Ethiopia accused the OLA of committing crimes in the area.

It also came after President William Ruto last month held talks with Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Redwan Hussien in the company of Kenya’s Director General of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji.

The meeting took place at State House in Nairobi and the issue is said to have featured hence the operation.

OLA is an armed opposition group active in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia.

The OLA consists primarily of former armed members of the pre-peace deal with Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) who refused to disarm out of skepticism of the deal, and former youth protestors who grew disillusioned with nonviolent resistance

Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and Director DCI, Mohamed Amin launched the exercise on behalf of Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja.

Kanja said the high-level operation will target criminals conducting illegal operations that pose a serious threat to Kenyan national security.

“These include arms, drug and human trafficking, illegal mining, instigating tribal conflicts and kidnapping for ransom especially in Sololo, Moyale, North Horr, and Merti Sub-counties,” he said.

He assured the local communities in the aforementioned areas of their security while also appealing to them to remain calm and cooperate with the security teams on the ground.

Further, the militia group has taken advantage of close family and cultural ties between the Borana of Kenya and Oromo of Ethiopia to infiltrate and hide among the populations in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties and continue to commit atrocities causing untold suffering to communities living along the Kenya-Ethiopia border who have endured intimidation, forceful takeover of property, and sexual assault against women and girls.

“Pursuant to the National Police Service’s mandate to protect life and property and preserve peace, special teams of the National Police Service have officially launched the first phase of ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’ within Marsabit and Isiolo Counties to flush out OLA criminal elements hiding in Sololo, Moyale, North Horr, Merti Sub- Counties and its environs.”

“In the spirit of community policing, we appeal to the local communities in the aforementioned operation areas to remain calm, carry on with their daily activities without fear, and cooperate with the National Police Service,” said Kanja.

Also present during the launch of the operation were GSU Commandant, Ranson Lolmodooni, Eastern Regional Commissioner, Paul Rotich, Eastern Regional Police Commander, Charles Naibei, Eastern Regional Administration Police Commander, Barasa Lusweti, and Eastern Regional Criminal Investigation Officer, Michael K. Sang’.

The area has been experiencing an influx of gangs that among others are involved in human trafficking.

The gangs have also been targeting gold mining sites for a living.

The government has declared the area a security zone as part of efforts to address the menace.

Despite the declaration, the gangs raid mining sites to get gold which at times become deadly.