Six people killed in clashes on Isiolo-Meru border

Meru Governor Peter Munya, when he toured the Igembe North region yesterday. Six people died when cattle rustlers suspected to be from Isiolo raided the area and stole cattle PHOTO: PHARES MUTEMBEI/STANDARD

MERU: Tension has remained high along the Isiolo South and Igembe North border following deadly clashes between Isiolo herders and Meru agro-pastoralists.

Six people - four from Meru and two from Isiolo - were killed on Wednesday night in a disputed area along the border of Kulamawe (Isiolo) and Mutuati (Meru). Two others were injured and about 1,000 animals stolen.

Confirming the incident, Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya Thursday said tension was high along the border and that those wounded were taken to Maua Methodist Hospital.

Mutuati OCPD Peter Kimani could not be reached for comment as he was reported to be among the officers pursuing the combatants, but a source indicated the Meru lost about 500 cattle and goats while the Borana also lost a similar number.

Mr Natembeya, who held an emergency security meeting with Isiolo leaders, said a contingent of combined security personnel was pursuing the raiders in both counties.

SECURITY PERSONNEL

Governor Godana Doyo, Isiolo South MP Abdullahi Banticha, Isiolo Woman Representative Tiyah Galgalo, senators Mohammed Kuti and Fatuma Dullo, and County Assembly Speaker Mohammed Tubi blamed security personnel in Garba-Tula and Igembe North for the conflict between the two sides.

"Police and administrators from both districts mishandled the October 14 incident. They watched as part of the more than 400 cattle stolen from Kulamawe were slaughtered and feasted on in front of the police station," they said in a joint statement.

They attributed the outbreak of violence to the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor, alleging there was a scheme in the offing to kick out Isiolo herders 'for land speculators' to benefit from future land compensation.

"The Borana of Isiolo South have co-existed peacefully with both the Igembe and Tigania from Meru North since time immemorial. The current conflict is related to a border dispute between Isiolo and Meru," said Mr Banticha.

Ms Galgalo said there were 22 police camps including the General Service Unit, Administration Police's Rapid Deployment Unit and Anti-Stock Theft Unit situated in the disputed areas, but who allegedly take orders from the Meru side.

The leaders called for the overhaul of police units in the disputed areas and a probe into how administrators and police handled the October 14 incident in Mutuati.

They claimed Isiolo residents were treated as 'second-class citizens' and appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to directly intervene in the matter.

"I want to tell Meru leaders we are also in the Jubilee Government and we will not accept to be pushed around. Security personnel must do their work without being dictated to by politicians," added Ms Galgalo.

In a related development, police in Isiolo gunned down two suspected rustlers and recovered 47 goats at Kipsing on Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto yesterday said police were pursuing raiders who stole goats and cattle from Lebarua on Tuesday night and that officers had 'declared war' on criminals in Isiolo Central Division.

"We are taking the bandits head-on. We are not going to have gangs going around killing and stealing livestock," he warned.

Isiolo County's game rangers backed by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers, community-based conservancy game scouts and Kenya Police Reservists have started an operation to kick out herders from three communities who had occupied the Buffalo Springs National Reserve since mid-last year.