A parliamentary committee has summoned two cabinet ministers to explain the Government's position on the frequent forays into Kenya by foreign militias.

Foreign Minister Bonaya Godana and Mr Julius Sunkuli, in charge of Defence in the President's Office, will appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and International Relations next week.

The committee chairman, Mr David Musila, singled out Ethiopian and Sudanese militias for disregarding the international law on territorial inviolability.

Addressing the Press at County Hall, Nairobi, yesterday, Mr Musila recalled that many Kenyans, including policemen, had been killed and much property destroyed or looted.

He said: "The continued invasion of Kenya's territory is in total disregard for our territorial sovereignty and we have decided to ask the ministers to present to us what action the Government contemplates taking."

Two weeks ago heavily-armed Ethiopian militiamen killed 10 Kenyans, among them eight policemen, at Kiltipe manyatta, Uran Division, Moyale District. An administration policeman was abducted.

Mr Musila, the Mwingi MP, said the situation on the Ethiopian border had deteriorated considerably in the past fortnight.

He added that a recent visit to Lokichoggio, Turkana District, had exposed the committee to the insecurity the residents lived in.

"The residents of Lokichoggio complained of the presence of Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers," Mr Musila said.

The MP said the residents' grazing land was totally in the hands of the rebels, who stole animals. However, the Government explained that the rebels only crossed over to access facilities, such as hospitals.

Mr Musila was accompanied by members Jimmy Angwenyi, Mukhisa Kituyi, Oburu Odinga and Suleiman Kamolle. Also present was Abdulahi Ali, who represents Wajir North.

The committee said it was also concerned about the insecurity occasioned by an Ethiopian militia's occupation of south-western Somalia.

The militiamen are said to have taken control of Bulahawa town, forcing civilians in to flee to Kenya.

Recently, three Kenyans were seized in the town for being in possession of an illegal publication. They were later released after the Mandera District security committee had intervened.

The House committee will visit Moyale and Wajir districts to assess the situation.

Dr Ali, who had been invited to the meeting as an MP from the region facing incursions, said the Government had not taken serious steps to stop the Ethiopian militia from raiding villages in Eastern and North Eastern provinces.

He said clan differences between the Ajuran and theGarre community had been taken over by the Ethiopian militia.

"The communities have entered a two-months ceasefire and the Ethiopians should stop any raids," the MP said.

Dr Ali said the communities in the region did not give sanctuary to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).