Security team reinforced in strife-hit area

More security personnel were on Tuesday rushed to Tana North District to help quell clashes between Orma and Wardei communities. 

Coast police boss Aggrey Adoli said hundreds of General Service Unit, Regular and Administration Police officers were sent to the area to reinforce those from neighbouring North Eastern Province who are on the ground in hard-hit areas like Bangale. 

“We are taking various measures to contain the situation and so far, we have not had reports of any incidents in the area despite the tension,” Mr Adoli said. 

He said patrols had been intensified in the affected areas in a bid to restore peace. 

The police boss urged residents to surrender illegal weapons in their possession or else they would be forcibly disarmed. 

“We will not debate with armed people. We understand they have hidden their firearms but we shall force them to surrender them,” he warned. 

A provincial security team comprising provincial commissioner Ernest Munyi is due to visit the area for a meeting with the communities’ leaders and elders. 

In 2006, Mr Munyi ended similar clashes in which several people were killed and dozens displaced. 

The Kenya Red Cross Society is on the ground offering assistance.   

The new wave of clashes was sparked by cattle theft raids last week in Tana North and Kitui districts in which six people were killed, among them a four-year-old boy and four raiders who had stolen 59 head of cattle. 

A motorcyclist was also shot dead on the Hola-Bangale road on the border of Tana North and Tana River districts.