Former MP arrested over Moyale clan clashes

Former Moyale MP Halake Guyo was on Friday arrested for incitement following overnight clashes in Moyale between the Borana and Garba clans that led to five deaths.

Two Kenya Police reservists and an Assistant Chief are among those killed.

Police commissioner Mathew Iteere confirmed the arrest of Mr Guyo at a press briefing on Friday.

A special unit made up of 45 officers was airlifted to the area on Friday morning and another two GSU companies (about 250 officers) dispatched immediately.

Several houses were burnt during the clashes.

Moyale DC Elias Kithura has said those injured have been rushed to Moyale district hospital.

The Garba community blames the Borana for using soldiers allied to Oromo National Liberation Front (ONLF) from the neighbouring Ethiopia to attack them.

The Garba are reported to have fled from five locations namely Butie, Helu, Kimisa, Manyatta and Gurumesha.

Last year Halake Guyo, who served in the 4th Parliament, blamed security officers for crippling the community economically by trying to retrieve firearms allegedly in its possession.

Mr Iteere, in his press conference, has also ordered for the immediate disarmament of all the locals and the Kenya Police Reservists.

National Cohesion and Integration Commission boss Mzalendo Kibunjia had earlier in the month said that the tribal conflicts in Moyale and Isiolo are politically motivated in anticipation of the 2012 elections.

Mr Kibunjia warned that the clashes should not be confused for cattle rustling incidents, but political machinations.

NCIC is currently in the process of identifying election hot spots to curb escalation of violence in the country.

Early this month, Moyale MP Mohammud Mohammed held a meeting with Internal Security Minister, Prof George Saitoti and the North Eastern Provincial Security Committee over the security situation.