Traders decry deteriorating security in Tana Delta District

By JOSEPH MASHA

Traders in Tana Delta District now say the bloodletting in the area has adversely affected their businesses.

Led by Mr Gilo Shungi, a trader at Oda village, they said they had been forced to close down their business for fear of being invaded by thugs.

“Business people in Tana Delta District have incurred a lot of losses since the beginning of this year due to the insecurity,” said Shungi.

The traders, who spoke to The Standard at Tarasaa trading centre yesterday, complained that the clashes pitting the Orma against the Pokomo had worsened the security situation in the area.

“Since March when cases of clashes started erupting among the Orma and the Pokomo, our business have really been affected to an extent of some closing down,” said Shungi.

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He said most people involved in petrol and boda boda business had moved to other areas.

The traders further said the mass exodus of people from the area had denied them customers.

A spot check at Tarasaa, Ngao and Oda trading centres in Garsen found a crowd of people looking for transport to relocate to other areas.

Most of the people fleeing said they had just returned to the area to celebrate Christmas with their relatives after they relocated in August and September following clashes that left about 120 people dead.

Mary Okwiri, who was among the people fleeing, said she was forced to abandon her home at Tarasaa to join her husband at Mpeketoni.

“My home is at Tarasaa, but I couldn’t just sit back and wait to be attacked,” said Okwiri.

Grace Guyo said she was moving from Oda to join her relatives in Malindi to celebrate Christmas.

However, Tana River County Commissioner Joseph Rotich urged area residents not to panic as the Government had deployed enough security officers in the area.

“The most important thing at the moment is to build peace among the Orma, Wardei and the Pokomo so that  they can live in harmony as that was the only solution to address the crisis facing the county,” said Rotich.