Police summon assistant minister over Tana clashes

By Cyrus Ombati

Police have summoned livestock Assistant Minister Dhadho Godhana for questioning over Tana River clashes that claimed more than 60 lives and deaths of more than 400 animals.

The Galole MP is expected at CID headquarters in Nairobi for questioning on Thursday.

CID director Francis Muhoro confirmed to the Standard they were expecting to interview the legislator.

“We expect him Thursday to answer some questions regarding the clashes in the area. It is unfortunate people are still dying there,” said Muhoro on the phone.

He said CID headquarters is complementing the Coast team that is investigating the clashes.

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The CID boss added police have so far interviewed more than 10 people and charged others in court including two chiefs over the clashes.

Tension remains high in the area after an incident in which a teacher was killed in new clashes between two communities and more than 100 cows and goats stolen at the weekend.

The summoning of Godhana comes days after internal security minister Yusuf Haji ordered the CID to question him over the clashes.

But Godhana instead demanded that Haji be investigated over the deaths.

He said he is ready to co-operate with security agencies if and when called upon for investigations to establish the truth of the matter.

Godhana said the clashes pitting Pokomo and Orma communities in the area are political.

“Even as the CID and other agencies investigate me as directed, they should also investigate the minister. He knows much that can help in knowing the truth,” said the MP.

He was reacting to claims by Minister Haji who accused him of refusing to cooperate with government officials in resolving the root cause of the violence.

Godhana said Haji is an interested party in the Tana Delta crisis and cannot therefore chair a meeting to solve the issues affecting it.

He claimed the minister who is the MP for neighbouring Ijara constituency has been practicing and expansionist agenda aimed at controlling the Tana River region.

“The minister knows more on the issue and is an interested party. He cannot be the judge in this case and that is why I refused to attend his meeting,” said Godhana.

Godhana said solutions for the region’s problems will be achieved by the locals and not what he termed as outsiders. He added he is a peace loving Kenyan and a former soldier.

He said he had raised alarm over pending attacks in the area and alerted the security agencies and two principals.

The last time he raised the alarm was before 328 cows were slashed to death when they were left to graze on rice field by Orma pastoralists.

“The cows were killed when the herders went missing and the police said they did not have a place to keep them. As a minister for livestock, it pains me to see such animals die.”

 He said there are fears of more retaliatory attacks from the Ormas who are armed. The Ormas plan to retaliate on the Pokomos following the attacks that left 52 people dead.

The deaths occurred when Pokomos attacked Ormas in the area.

The conflict was triggered by fight over pasture.