Marsabit leaders ask State to tame insecurity

A map showing part of Marsabit County. Leaders from the region have asked the government to tame insecurity in the region. GRAPHIC | GOOGLE MAPS

Marsabit leaders have asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to contain insecurity in the county that has left at least 20 people dead.

The leaders claimed the killings over the past two months were all politically instigated.

“Eight people were killed in Saku Sub-County in May, 11 others killed on the Isiolo-Marsabit border and two others were killed in June,” said Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Mohamud Mohamed.

He claimed the nature of the attacks point to acts of hired goons.

Mr Mohamed also accused security personnel in the region of laxity.

“These killings were always preceded by inflammatory statements made by politicians and the same politicians are traversing the region providing veiled assurances to the perpetrators that no action shall be taken against them,” he said.

Mr Mohamud, Marsabit Senator Abubakar Harugura and Saku MP Ali Rasso were addressing journalists at a Nairobi hotel.

Senator Harugura said insecurity has affected the movement of people and goods in the county.

“The recent killings were neither resource-based nor ethnic-driven but are organised with the view to create disharmony between communities during this electioneering period,” alleged the senator.

Mr Rasso said the government should increase surveillance and security along the Marsabit-Isiolo road to prevent more attacks.