MP refutes claim on links to Tana massacre

By CYRUS OMBATI

Livestock Assistant Minister Dhadho Godhana has denied claims he was behind the Tana River clashes and instead demanded that acting internal security minister Yusuf Haji be investigated over the deaths.

He said he is ready to co-operate with security agencies if and when called upon for investigations to establish the truth of the matter.

Godhana said the clashes pitting Pokomos and Ormas in the area are political aimed at achieving a certain goal.

“Even as the CID and other agencies investigate me as directed, they should also investigate the minister. He knows much that can help in knowing the truth,” said the MP.

He added that the clashes were caused by a single family that had intentionally dragged in entire communities in the area with a hidden agenda.

The Galole MP spoke in Nairobi before he joined Prime Minister Raila Odinga in visiting the area.

He was reacting to claims by Minister Haji who accused him of refusing to cooperate with government officials in resolving the root cause of the violence.

Godhana who was accompanied by a section of his constituents said Haji is an interested party in the Tana Delta crisis and cannot therefore chair a meeting to solve the issues affecting it.

He claimed the minister who is the MP for neighbouring Ijara constituency has been practicing and expansionist agenda aimed at controlling the Tana River region.

“The minister knows more on the issue and is an interested party. He cannot be the judge in this case and that is why I refused to attend his meeting,” said Godhana.

Godhana said solutions for the region’s problems will be achieved by the locals and not what he termed as outsiders. He added he is a peace loving Kenyan and a former soldier.

He said he had raised alarm over pending attacks in the area and alerted the security agencies and two principals.

The lat time he raised the alarm was before 328 cows were slashed to death when they were left to graze on rice field by Orma pastoralists.

“The cows were killed when the herders went missing and the police said they did not have a place to keep them. As a minister for livestock, it pains me to see such animals die.”

 He said there are fears of more retaliatory attacks from the Ormas who are armed. The Ormas plan to retaliate on the Pokomos following the Wednesday morning attacks that left 52 people dead and more than 60 cows killed.

The Tana River deaths occurred when Pokomos attacked Ormas in the area.

The conflict was triggered by fight over pasture.

The attack came in the wake of last week’s incident in which three villagers were killed and six injured after Orma herdsmen attacked Pokomo villagers. The attack occurred after cattle owned by the Orma strayed into Pokomo farmlands and destroyed crops.

The farmers attacked the herdsmen and slashed some of their animals, which police said were 328.

The herdsmen regrouped and attacked a Pokomo village, killing three villagers.

Supkem secretary general Adan Wachu condemned the attacks and urged authorities to move in and contain the situation.

He said Supkem is planning a meeting with the locals to solve the dispute that led to the attacks.

“We will visit Tana River and Mandera to spearhead talks for peace to prevail,” said Wachu.