This archive report was first published on 20 October 2021.
On October 20, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated Kenya's stance on the maritime boundary dispute with Somalia during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kirinyaga County.
Kenya had been seeking a ruling on the disputed territory, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on October 12, 2021, that there was no agreed maritime boundary between the two countries, handing Somalia most of the disputed sea zone.
President Kenyatta described the ruling as erroneous and stated that Kenya is committed to a diplomatic process to resolve the impasse. He emphasized that Kenya's territorial integrity remains a priority and that the country will not compromise on its sovereignty.
“Since the dawn of our Republic, on many occasions, we have experienced territorial aggression to the sanctity of our borders, some have been driven from within and others from without, but the message of our founding fathers to these aggressors was simple, not an inch less not an inch more and this is the message that must reverberate across the collective quarters that are bent on annexing any part of the territory known as the Republic of Kenya,” said Kenyatta.
President Kenyatta also highlighted the transformation of Kenya's security sector, including the military, as one of his administration's key agenda. He stated that the country has made significant progress in modernizing its military and has achieved a high police-to-population ratio, which is higher than the UN prescribed standard.
