By Paul Gitau
Barely a week after a contingent of heavily armed police officers embarked on a disarmament exercise in Tana Delta District, residents are now protesting bitterly against alleged harassment.
The locals are accusing police of torture and use of excessive force as they search for illegal firearms.
The warring communities have promised to embrace peace and asked the Government to suspend the disarmament.
The raided villages are Ozi,Dide Waride, Kipini, Odhole, Danisa and Kitere which are occupied by both the Pokomo and Orma communities.
According to Kenya Red Cross official Hassan Musa, the organisation has treated scores of locals at its mobile clinic who claimed to have been beaten up by the security personnel.
Mr Musa said they were forced to transfer five injured locals to Malindi District Hospital for specialised treatment.
Four are admitted at the hospital while another is at Tawfiq hospital. Those with minor injuries have been admitted at Ngao District Hospital.
Humane operations
Area MP Danson Mungatana asked the newly appointed Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito to suspend the exercise and initiate dialogue.
“I appeal to the minister to suspend the exercise as the locals from both warring communities are ready to initiate peaceful coexistence,” Mungatana said.
He, however, said the Government should not relent in its search for illegal arms in the area.
Galgalo Guyo, who is nursing head injuries at the Malindi hospital, said he was beaten by officers who were demanding they surrender guns.
Mr Guyo said the officers also destroyed their homes and that more than 30 people were injured during the operation.
Efforts to get a comment from Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Tana Delta operations, Anthony Kamitu, were futile as his cellphone went unanswered.
Earlier, Mr Kamitu had asked the locals to cooperate with police officers and promised them that the operations would be humane.
