Police pursue inciters to Marsabit killings

Eastern Regional Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru and Regional Police Commander Eunice Kihiko address press in Embu town about the spate of killings in Marsabit. [Joseph Muchiri/Standard]

The Eastern region security team is pursuing crucial leads to arrest and prosecute inciters linked to the killing of 15 people, mostly herders, in the past one month.

The team has issued a stern warning to local leaders for making inflammatory remarks that have led to the killing of innocent residents.

Five people were killed last Wednesday and Thursday. Eastern Regional Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru and Regional Police Commander Eunice Kihiko defended the move by the Government to disarm reservists in a bid to end the senseless killings.

Speaking at a press briefing in Embu town yesterday, Mr Nakoru said adequate security officers have been deployed to the troubled areas even as he called on local residents to volunteer information to the police. “The latest incidents show a culture of retaliatory killings is being cultivated.

We cannot allow innocent lives to continue to be lost. We are closing in on a few individuals and we will arrest them once investigations are complete,” he said.

The Government recently withdrew guns held by reservists in the county to allow fresh vetting and registration after claims that some of them were involved in tribal clashes.