Four people, 11 camels killed in fresh-inter clan violence in Moyale, Marsabit County

By CYRUS OMBATI

MARSABI, KENYA: Four people were killed and one wounded in fresh inter-clan violence in Moyale, Marsabit County that has sparked tension.

Eleven camels were also killed and 29 injured when a group of herders from the Gabra community was ambushed at a watering point on Saturday afternoon. They were attacked with bullets and no animal was stolen.

Police said the incident happened when at about 4 pm when members of the Gabra community took their livestock to a watering point at Odha.

“While there, an unknown number of community members from the Borana community who were armed attacked them.  The attack led to the death of four members from the Gabra community and the injuring of one.  Ten camels were killed and 29 were injured.  No livestock were stolen during the incident,” said Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

Kimaiyo said investigations into the incident have been commenced and that no arrest has been made so far.

The investigations are aimed at identifying any particular parties or persons who may be culpable with a view of instituting necessary criminal proceedings against them, he said.

“We will not hesitate to act firmly against anyone whom we will establish that he or she is fueling discontentment and hatred among the citizens, including the killers.”

He said the watering point is a facility, which should be used by both communities without any reservations and no single community or entity should claim monopoly over it.

He advised the community leaders make administrative arrangements which will help in organizing for structured access to the watering point both for human and livestock use to minimize confrontation and crowding up of the watering point.

The attacks are the first ones this year in the ongoing inter-clan fighting in the area. Last year alone, more than a dozen people were killed and several displaced in clashes between communities living in the county and in particular Moyale region.

The fighting has been over distribution of political seats with the Boranas who are the majority claiming they had been locked out.

But area Governor Ukur Yattani said his government has been making efforts to build a cohesive and just society in the area by appointing all communities that live there.

The communities include Borana, Burji, Rendile, Gabra, Garre, Corner, Elmolo, Turkana and Kosso.

He added the problem in Marsabit County has been an ongoing one and that he is ready to fix it and cited the July 2005 Turbi massacre in which more than 100 people were killed in clashes.