Mungatana ejected from security meeting

By Paul Gitau

Tana, Kenya: Police rescued former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana from an angry mob at Oda in wartorn Tana Delta District, when he attended a meeting of Orma clan leaders.

“This is an indication the other side is not ready for peace,” said Mungatana, after being evacuated. Former DC and Tana River County governor aspirant Hussein Dado said Mungatana’s visit to Oda was premature because “our people needed time” to respond to proposals for joint rallies by leaders from rival tribes.

General Service Unit (GSU) officers who were guarding his entourage from Tarasaa where he and Pokomo leaders held a reconciliation meeting intervened. The Orma boycotted the meeting at Tarasaa.

The two tribes have waged war since last August, leading to the murder of more than 200 people, including ten policemen.

Last week, about 20 people were killed in Nduru and Kibusu villages prompting a meeting of leaders from both tribes in Nairobi on Monday led by Internal Security minister Katoo ole Metito.

It was agreed that leaders from the two tribes and other groups hold joint rallies from Tuesday to promote peace and reconciliation.

The joint meetings never took off and instead, Mungatana turned up at Tarasaa for the first meeting organised by Kenya Red Cross Society. He was accompanied by Secretary General Abbas Gullet and some Pokomo leaders.

To underline the state of raw emotions and wide differences between the two tribes, Orma clan leaders held a separate meeting at Oda and Mungatana thought it wise to go there. But as soon as he entered the village, a rowdy mob blocked his motorcade.

Gullet said the Orma villagers seemed not to have been briefed about the joint rallies. He said the Red Cross will step up reconciliation efforts and reconstruction.