Leaders claim politicians fuelling attacks

By JOSEPH MASHA and PHILIP MWAKIO

Leaders and human rights agencies have claimed politicians seeking to influence polls in the county were behind the latest killings in Tana River Delta.

They also censured the Police and Internal Security minister Katoo ole Metito for the rise in insecurity.

Meanwhile, intelligence sources told The Standard On Sunday last evening that retaliatory attacks were imminent as ethnic Orma who lost more than 20 kinsmen have threatened to revenge against Pokomo. The intelligence sources also revised the death toll to 45.

“Some prominent political leaders who are seeking top positions in Tana River County fear losing the polls next year and now they have turned to crude ways of scaring the people to flee the area so as not to vote,” claimed Tana River County Council chairman Salim Golo who is also Garsen Ward councillor.

He said the Friday attack, curiously, came a day after a reconciliation meeting held in Kipao village.

Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) Executive Director Hussein Khalid, said the minister should explain how the massacre of 45 villagers could be committed a few kilometres from a GSU patrol base.

Mr Khalid also alleged that some of the attackers wore police uniform while one of those slain by villagers is believed to have been a security officer. The official claimed that GSU officers visited Kipao two days before the massacre and said there was a political hand in the violence.

“Muhuri is perplexed by the killings of tens of people in Kipao village of Tana River County. This is despite the presence of hundreds of GSU personnel in the region who were in the area to promote peace and stop the killings,” Khalid said in a statement to The Standard On Sunday.

Muhuri suspects the violence is associated with up coming elections in Tana River County.

“We suspect there could be political forces trying to displace voters from Tana River and adjacent areas including Lamu and Malindi,” Khalid said and added that the Internal Security minister must explain pressing questions.

“Clearly, we cannot sit and watch as those placed in places of authority fail to do their work. That the minister has failed to protect lives and property which are his core duties leaves him with no choice but to step aside,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kipao village is believed to be the most densely populated settlement in Garsen constituency. However, these claims have not been independently confirmed by The Standard On Sunday.

According to Golo the village has over 100 households.

“Kipao village is one of the largest villages in Garsen constituency and it has over 100 households thus carrying a bigger number of people in the area and for that case it could be targeted politically,” said Golo.

According to statistics from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Garsen constituency registered 28,714 voters at the just concluded exercise with Kipao having 1,550, one of the largest concentration of voters in the constituency.

Other constituencies in Tana River County are Galole with 19,374 and Bura with 24,949 voters.

IEBC North coast region coordinator Ms Anasaticia Mutua said many people lost their IDs during the clashes which occurred in Kilelengwani and Kipini in August and September hence could nor register as voters.

Recently the Government deployed GSU officers in Tana River Delta following the massacre of 116 people including nine policemen.

The killings forced the Government to impose a dusk to dawn curfew in the whole Tana Delta as part of security measures aimed at containing tensions and confrontations among residents.

Villagers dislpaced by the violence were forced to camp at at Witu, Tarasa and Dida Waride.

Galole MP Dadho Godana was charged in court in connection with the clashes.

Godana allegedly called for the removal of Defence Minister Yusuf Haji from the Internal Security docket failure to which there would be no peace in Tana River.

He was accused that on September 11 at Kilelengwani village in Tana Delta District, he uttered words to the effect “I am sure, I am certain that you are yet to see more, if Haji is not sacked from that docket.”