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Ethiopia Urged to Release Detained Kenyans
The Kenyan government Saturday gave Ethiopia a 10-day ultimatum to surrender four Kenyans unlawfully detained in that country, the Sunday Standard newspaper reported.
In a statement issued in the capital Nairobi, Kenya's North Eastern Provincial Commissioner Maurice Makhanu demanded unconditional release of three men and a woman who had been illegally arrested and detained in Ethiopia.
It was not clear yet why these Kenyans had been arrested.
Kenya had used all possible means to secure their release but in vain and was now issuing an ultimatum and threatened sterner action if it was not honored, Makhanu said.
The commissioner issued the ultimatum after arriving from the Ethiopian town of Awasa, where he attended the 20th Ethiopia-Kenya Joint Border Administers and Commissioners Committee meeting.
"From time immemorial, our government played host to Ethiopian nationals and allowed them to do business in the country," Makhanu said, adding that "they operate matatu (mini-bus), hotel and wholesale businesses here without harassment."
"It has now become clear that Ethiopian authorities have no respect for Kenyans," the commissioner said.
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