Three killed in Moyale as tension eases

By Ali Abdi

Marsabit County

Three people have been killed in separate incidents in Marsabit County. In the first incident, a turnboy was shot dead near a village in Central Moyale, an incident that heightened tension between warring Borana and Burji communities.

Buru Buru OCPD Jacinta Wesonga and senior police officers inspect motor vehicle parts found in a building in Kariobangi, Nairobi, on Sunday. Photo: Collins Kweyu/Standard

Regional Commissioner for upper Eastern Isaiah Nakoru said yesterday that the 18-year-old man was shot dead by unknown assailants who fired at him as he went about his activities.

The incident led to street protests from members of the community where the turn boy hails from, but Nakoru said security personnel were able to contain the situation.

"There was a brief protest following the incident, but the situation is now calm and locals are going about their business as usual," said the administrator.

A peace meeting between elders and political leaders in Moyale was underway yesterday.

Animosity between the Borana and Burji communities was sparked by the defilement of a 16-year-old girl two weeks ago.

The incident was followed by killing of a man, which led to ten days of protest that paralysed activities in the border town.

In the second incident, raiders abducted and killed two herdsmen and injured two others in North Horr on Saturday morning.

The raiders attacked the herdsmen at a grazing field near North Horr Trading Centre, drove out hundreds of cattle and abducted two men.

However, home guards pursued them and a fierce gun battle ensued near Sibiloi National Park.

North Horr OCPD Mathew Kuto said the home guards recovered the stolen animals. The abducted men were later found dead with gunshot wounds, not far from the scene of fighting.