Interior CS Nkaissery, IG Boinnet given one week to end clashes in Kenya's Tana Delta

The National Assembly Committee on National Security has given Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery and Inspector General of Police (IG) Joseph Boinnet one week to deploy officers to the Tana Delta, Tana River County.

Ethnic clashes in the area have led resulted in the deaths of six people.

Speaking at Parliament Buildings yesterday, Committee Chairman Asman Kamama said: "We are giving the Interior ministry and the IG one week to ensure the clashes have been stopped."

The Tiaty legislator said tension remains high in the Tana Delta following the attacks.

"Six people cannot just die and the whole thing is wished away," he said.

The lawmaker said the killing of a herder at Miti Charaka a fortnight ago sparked the clashes. The herder was killed after his cattle allegedly destroyed crops that were ready for harvest.

Committee members Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i), Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria), Hassan Dukicha (Galole) and Alois Lentoimaga (Samburu North) reprimanded security agencies for slow response.

"The Government is fond of ignoring intelligence warnings on impending attacks. It must be proactive and change tack to restore peace in the country," said Mr Lentoimaga. Mr Dukicha said the Government should address historical land injustices to avert further clashes.

He said: "The State must come up with parallel investigations because some local administrators have either been compromised or own land in the disputed area."

They also called for a thorough probe to establish whether the attacks were linked to the 2017 elections. Mr Kamama further called for the disarmament of pastoralists and politicians to be investigated.

"We want perpetrators of these crimes apprehended and put behind bars. Our committee is receiving reports that the latest attack could be linked to land grabbing, which is high in the area," he said.

He urged the National Cohesion Integration Commission to deploy its team to the area and find a lasting solution.

"For this reason, we also want the National Land Commission to go to Tana Delta and launch an inquiry into the land claims," he said.