Leaders fault State as raiders kill 32 more in fresh Tana Delta chaos
Security personnel patrol Kau Village in Tana River following an arson attack last month. About 300 raiders attacked Kilelengwani Village in Garsen yesterday killing 32 people, including nine police officers. Photo/File
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More than 6,000 people have fled the region since the clashes between the Orma and Pokomo communities began a month ago culminating in the killing of 32 people on Monday, including nine police officers, when about 300 raiders attacked Kilelengwani Village in Chara Location.
A police truck and a vehicle were also burnt in the attack when the raiders overpowered officers at Kilelengwani Police Post. They also stole 400 heads of cattle. Nearly 70 people have been killed in Reketa and Chamwanamuma villages in the past three weeks.
Reacting to the renewed violence, leaders urged President Kibaki to act decisively to end the violence. MPs Danson Mungatana (Garsen), Nuh Nassir (Bura) and Dadho Godhona (Galole) blamed the government’s inaction for the killings in Kilelengwani village in Garsen where 15 men, five women, eight children and nine policemen died.
Mr Godhona challenged the government to support elders involved in peace initiatives to restore security saying that “imported solutions” will not work.
The displaced have moved from the Hola area to the lower Tana Delta, fuelling a refugee crisis that the Kenya Red Cross is already grappling with. Ms Salome Moroa, an assistant chief in the area, said the refugees had no food, water, mosquito nets and other basic needs. Thousands of residents moved to safer camps in Tarasaa, Kanagoni, Gongoni, Mambrui, Malindi and Mombasa.
Residents of Tana River delta are counting the losses from the ongoing land clashes that have destabilised an already fragile economy.
More than 6,000 people have fled the region since the clashes between the Orma and Pokomo communities began a month ago culminating in the killing of 32 people on Monday, including nine police officers, when about 300 raiders attacked Kilelengwani Village in Chara Location.
A police truck and a vehicle were also burnt in the attack when the raiders overpowered officers at Kilelengwani Police Post. They also stole 400 heads of cattle. Nearly 70 people have been killed in Reketa and Chamwanamuma villages in the past three weeks.
Reacting to the renewed violence, leaders urged President Kibaki to act decisively to end the violence.
MPs Danson Mungatana (Garsen), Nuh Nassir (Bura) and Dadho Godhona (Galole) blamed the government’s inaction for the killings in Kilelengwani village in Garsen where 15 men, five women, eight children and nine policemen died.
“It is no longer a question of Ormas and Pokomo. It is government impunity in refusing to arrest the situation,” said Mr Mungatana.
Dr Nuh accused the government of failing to arrest unnamed politicians who he alleged were behind the clashes. “We have been on the ground preaching peace but the problem is Nairobi which has refused to act on intelligence information and recommendations by the district and provincial security teams,” he said.
Mr Godhona challenged the government to support elders involved in peace initiatives to restore security saying that “imported solutions” will not work.
“We want the government to move with speed to facilitate the work of the elders who have the capacity to restore peace. Sending guns will not solve the situation,” he said at a separate press conference at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi before Mr Mungatana and Dr Nuh also addressed the media.
The displaced have moved from the Hola area to the lower Tana Delta, fuelling a refugee crisis that the Kenya Red Cross is already grappling with. Ms Salome Moroa, an assistant chief in the area, said the refugees had no food, water, mosquito nets and other basic needs.
Thousands of residents moved to safer camps in Tarasaa, Kanagoni, Gongoni, Mambrui, Malindi and Mombasa.
Coast PC Samuel Kilele said the government would investigate the killings and take action against those found culpable.
The PC said four chiefs had been sacked following last week’s attack in Chamwanamuma village where 14 people were killed.
