- NIS Director-General Noordin Haji openly confirmed that Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is occupying Kenyan land.
- His admission clashes with previous government claims that downplayed the issue.
- He raised concerns about increasing border insecurity from neighbouring countries, excluding Tanzania.
- Moyale town has witnessed direct clashes between Kenyan security and suspected OLA fighters.
- The group is linked to killings, kidnappings, and arms smuggling.
- The government has launched intensified operations in Isiolo and Marsabit to counter such threats.
- Haji’s bold statement reflects a shift in Kenya’s security strategy from silent diplomacy to open resistance.
In a surprising and bold move, Kenya’s National Intelligence Service head Noordin Haji admitted something the government has long brushed aside. He told MPs that an Ethiopian rebel outfit, the Oromo Liberation Army, has taken control of some parts of Kenyan land.
“For the first time, we are admitting what has long been denied,” Haji told the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee. “The Oromo Liberation Army is occupying our territory—and we are forced to deal with them.”
-Contradiction of the Past
This open acknowledgment goes against earlier official narratives that referred to the OLA’s activity as light and scattered. Haji’s testimony not only confirms the rebel group’s presence but marks a major change in how Kenya now views and approaches cross-border threats.
Threats from Across the Region
The intelligence chief further raised the alarm on the rising security threats along Kenya’s borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. He noted that these regions have become active with armed groups involved in criminal activities such as cattle theft, gun-running, and attacks on civilians. Curiously, Tanzania was not mentioned among the sources of concern.
Moyale Becomes a Flashpoint
Recent reports from Moyale, a border town between Kenya and Ethiopia, suggest that armed confrontations between Kenyan forces and suspected OLA fighters are no longer isolated cases. The clashes are now being classified as encounters with a foreign force occupying local territory.
Operation Ondoa Jangili Intensifies
In response, the government has boosted its crackdown under the ongoing security initiative, Operation Ondoa Jangili, especially in high-risk counties like Isiolo and Marsabit. The aim is to flush out not just bandits, but foreign rebel elements too.
Rebel Group Linked to Deadly Acts
The OLA, which bases its operations in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, is feared for carrying out assassinations and kidnappings. According to intelligence, the group even handed over South Korean captives to Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants last year—highlighting their dangerous networks.
From Silence to Firm Action
Although Kenya hasn’t officially addressed the OLA’s accusations of civilian attacks, Haji’s strong words indicate that the state may now be done with backdoor diplomacy. Instead
