Calm returns in Marsabit after days of skirmishes

Calm has been restored in Marsabit County after two days of skirmishes that left three people killed and eight injured.

Local OCPD Nehemiah Lagat said security has been beefed up in the county and normal traffic flow along the Moyale-Marsabit road had resumed.

More than 100 trucks carrying goods had stalled along the road due to fighting between local communities.

“All is well. The road is passable. Only people who still fear using the road have kept off. Otherwise normal transport activities have resumed with buses plying the Nairobi-Marsabit route arriving safely." Mr Lagat said. He was speaking on phone.

Mr Lagat said security personnel have been deployed to manyattas deemed to be vulnerable to attacks.

Nine people have been killed in Marsabit due to conflicts between local communities since last Friday.

Some of the residents have called for the investigation of a website known as Garreonline for allegedly instigating the skirmishes.

They claim the website calls for the secession of parts of North Eastern Kenya.

DEMANDED EXPLANATION

It has a map that shows a new region called Gaareland republic which stretches from Isiolo, Moyale, Wajir and Mandera to parts of Ethiopia.

The deadly conflict between the warring communities in North Eastern region has so far caused the deaths of more than 100 people since last year with hundreds being displaced.

The locals have demanded explanation from the Inspector General of Police, the National Intelligence Service, the military and the US, where operators of the site are located and allegedly being funded, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the existence of the website.

The locals questioned why local leaders whose photographs appear on the website had not denounced its operations.

Some flags and vehicles of the group calling for secession have been spotted in northern Kenya.

The group running the website is said to have been fundraising for money to purchase firearms that have been used in fights in northern Kenya and parts of Ethiopia.

The group is said to operate under the command of a “Sultan.” (Read: Website calling for secession blamed for raids)

Mandera West MP Mohamud Mohamed said he is aware of a group that was using their website to cause divisions among communities in the region.

HATE SPEECH

“I have heard about it, we believe it is a group operating from Los Angeles in America, it doesn’t have anything to do with our community and we want peace,” Mr Mohamud said.

Nominated MP Hassan Hassan Adan Osman, who is also UDF chairman, said he is aware of the sites and many others, which propagate hate speech but added they had forwarded the information to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

“The NCIC is handling this matter and we believe action would be taken against on the culprits as soon as possible,” Mr Osman said.

The website mainly updates its followers on the latest developments and plans of its leaders.

In the Gaare Republic map found on website written in Somali Native Language` Mapka Dulka Ghaari’ meaning the Map of the land of Ghaari, it shows how Moyale, Isiolo and parts of Wajir belong to them.

The persistent skirmishes that have left hundreds of people dead in northern Kenya have mainly pitted the Garre against the Murulle, Degodia, Arjuran and other communities.

EMBRACE PEACE

Thursday, the Supreme Council of Kenya secretary general Adan Wachu condemned the attacks.

He said Supkem is perturbed by the current senseless and heinous killings going on in Moyale.

He called on local leadership to help end all arms and political hostilities in Moyale Town and its environs with immediate effect and open all roads that are currently blocked by marauding youths.

Mr Wachu said all movements of both human and traffic within the county should not be interrupted and that security personnel should be posted to all strategic and hot spot areas.

The official said all communities should embrace peace and give ample time and genuine support to dialogue.

He said political and economic resource that are currently the lead catalyst in the flare-ups should be re-addressed with a view to having it shared out equally and equitably at all levels.

“The current elected county government leadership must be seen to be leading from the front and by example,” Mr Wachu said in a statement.

He added that the county government leadership must come out very clearly, honestly and transparently to address the county's problems.

They should serve all communities in the county equally regardless of their political affiliations, he added.