A stray bullet from Ethiopia's border fighting kills a 64-year-old Kenyan woman in Moyale, and 220 exam candidates are moved away from the frontier

L2Who’s affected

The schools: "220 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates have been forced to sit their examinations away from their schools" (Daily Nation). "Sessi Mixed Secondary School, located less than 100 metres from the border, had been hit by stray bullets" and "Candidates from St Mary's Mixed Secondary School were moved to Heillu Primary School, about 1.5 kilometres from the border" (Daily Nation). Munywoki told Kenyans.co.ke: "Sessi Secondary School for example is approximately 60 to 100 metres from the border." He told Radio Jangwani that "an explosive device had landed within Sessi Secondary School before being defused by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers." "A total of 1,443 candidates are sitting the examinations in the sub-county" (Daily Nation). "So far, our security forces have found up to 10 unexploded RPGs," Munywoki said (Daily Nation).

L3Why it’s quiet

Analysis · OVERLOOKED The fighting is between two Ethiopian regions in a remote border town and has mostly been reported abroad as a refugee story.

L4Deeper impact

How many have crossed: the figures differ by source. Kenyans.co.ke says "over 40,000 Ethiopians have already crossed the border to Kenya." Radio Jangwani says "More than 50,000 Ethiopian nationals have crossed into Kenya through Moyale." The Standard says UNHCR reported on Oct. 28 that "local authorities estimated up to 50,000 people had crossed into Kenya seeking safety," a figure "subject to registration and verification." The Nation reports "locals hosting more than 25,000 Ethiopians," and that UN agencies said "about Sh1.16 billion was needed to support up to 50,000 people in the next three months."

L5Full context

Wider impact: "The clashes between the Oromia and Somali regional forces in Ethiopia have also affected businesses as cross border trade has stopped," and "Truckers destined to Ethiopia have been stuck on the Kenyan side for the last 10 days" (Daily Nation). Moyale faces "power outages due to rationing occasioned by disconnection from the Ethiopian grid," and food supplies "could last about two days only," Munywoki said; the government "is considering relocating residents of Sessi Estate due to the danger posed by stray ammo" (Daily Nation). "This year's examination involves 1,048,355 candidates sitting their papers in 10,693 centres across the country" (The Standard).

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