Mandera skirmishes a spillover from Ethiopia, says DIG Kaindi

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Grace Kaindi has said that the conflict pitting the Garre and Degodia clans in Mandera County is a spillover of similar skirmishes between the two communities in Ethiopia.

Speaking in Mombasa, Ms Kaindi said investigations had not linked local politicians to the clashes, adding that a contingent of security officers had been deployed to contain the situation.

“The way the conflict is emerging shows it is just a spillover into Kenya. The conflict actually started in Ethiopia, where the same communities are represented. This is (a) spillover into our country and we are dealing with it. We are yet to establish any political connection,” she said.

She added that security forces had acted quickly to contain renewed clashes on Tuesday.

“This morning we were told that the Garre and Degodia had started fighting again but police intervened,” said Ms Kaindi.

DISMISSED CLAIMS

She dismissed claims by Mandera leaders, led by Governor Ali Roba, that the police did not respond quickly when the fighting started in Rhamu over the weekend.

“They responded and we even had a contingent of the General Service Unit (GSU) and Administration Police deployed there. They were there very early and they are still there,” she added.

The deputy police chief also told journalists that security officers in Lamu had been issued with sophisticated firearms to deal with criminals armed with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).

She said more weapons were being purchased to ensure security agencies across the country are capable of dealing with heavily armed criminals.

Police officers who responded after the Lamu attacks admitted to having been overpowered by a handful of armed criminals, who were heavily armed and who killed at least 94 people.