Uneasy calm returns to Tana River after clashes

Residents flee from Msurujani-Katsangani villages along the Kilifi and Tana River counties border following clashes between farmers and pastralists communities. [File, Standard]

Uneasy calm has returned to several villages in Tana River county following inter-clan clashes that claimed 12 lives.

Security forces deployed to the region Saturday have managed to restore calm despite tension in several villages.

Bangale sub county police commandant Ephraim Karani said that the presence of security forces has ended the tension after clashes erupted on Friday between farmers and pastoralists communities.

"We have beefed up security after deploying Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) and Administration Police in those areas and no incident has been reported since yesterday as patrol s continue," he told The Standard on phone.

Karani said that so far no arrests have been made but assured the aggrieved families that justice will be served once police complete investigations.

He said residents killed in the clashes have been in Madogo.

"Currently, there is a burial at Vango in Madogo and security has been beefed up all around," he added.

The skirmishes between Wardei and Wailwana communities started two weeks ago at KBC cluster village in Madogo after armed assailants invaded the village occupied by flood victims, killing three people.

But the conflict escalated to Nanighi and other villages around Bura where the attackers from both sides have been using firearms, bows and arrows.

The first incident was ignited by squabbles at a watering point in Anole between two communities which led to the shooting of Said Maliyu, 75, and Juma Mohammed aged 35.

The skirmishes further escalated to KBC area where the flood victims had settled recently and a village elder Mr Daud Shora, 58, was shot four times and died on the spot.

Karani revealed that tension escalated on Friday as the two communities clashed over land dispute.

"We responded swiftly and deployed adequate security officers to restore calm," he said.

He warned that the situation could have gotten out of hand had security personnel not intervened in Anole, where schoolchildren and teachers, were targeted in a retaliatory attack by one of the warring communities.

Karani disclosed that police already have the names of individuals possessing illegal firearms and it was a matter of time before they are arrested.

Tana River Senator Mr Danson Mungatana condemned the frequent attacks in the region and urged police to speed up investigation into possession of illegal arms.
"Why is that communities are using illegal guns and yet the police are yet to apprehend anybody?" He posed.

Residents including local human defenders raised concern over inaction against residents possessing illegal guns.

Human rights activist Mohamed Dado demanded arrest of individuals possessing illegal firearms or else they will name them.

The leaders claimed that some politicians were behind the violence.

Bura MP Mr Yakub Adow blamed the clashes on transfer of the flood victims.

The MP defended the cluster programme initiated by the county government saying there was no ill motive.

Tension remains high in Nanighi, Darime, Anole,Ziwani and Bakuyu villages despite villagers including women and children fleeing their homes for fear of invasion by pastoralists from neighboring Garissa county.

At least 10 primary schools have been closed along the River Tana in Bura.