20110404 - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guteres has decried the influx of refugees from Somalia into Kenya.

Guteres said since January, up to 10,000 refugees have crossed the border to Kenya, leading to congestion at the Dadaab camp. He blamed the al-Shabaab militia for the volatile situation in Somalia. Guteres spoke at Dadaab while accompanied by World Food Programme Executive Director Josette Sheeran and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachele.

They were assessing the food crisis, security situation and state of women and children. They also visited Ifo and Hagdera refugees camp.

Fresh fighting between al-Shabaab and Somali’s Transitional Federal Government troops near the Kenyan boarder has been raging in the past two months, forcing thousands of residents to flee.

Kenya has deployed hundreds of security personnel at the border to deter incursion. The gangs have more than twice attacked troops in Liboi in protest against alleged Kenya’s assistance to the TFG.

Last week, Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia warned the gangs that they would not be spared. He added security had been beefed up along the porous Kenya/Somalia boarder to deter such attacks.

Al-Shabaab, aligned to al-Qaeda as claimed has warned it would attack Kenya for allegedly supporting the TFG. Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere has called on Kenyans to be vigilant in malls, social places and matatus (mini-buses).