20 houses burnt in revenge attack
Smoke billows from some of the houses set ablaze in Wabir village by youths avenging the killings during the clashes between the Garre and the Degodia. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE
What you need to know:
- Friday, local leaders among them Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullah, who attended the emotional burial, condemned Thursday’s attacks and pleaded with the public not to avenge the killings.
- In the interview, Mr Tialal could not state when the surveyors would begin their work. But he confirmed that re-establishing the Takaba boundary was one of the issues agreed upon by local leaders during peace meetings.
Youth protesting the killing of 12 people in Gunana on the Wajir-Mandera border Friday torched more than 20 houses in Wabir village, Wajir East constituency, in retaliation.
Smoke billowed from the razed village, sparking tension as villagers and leaders gathered in Wajir Town for the burial of the victims.
The government has disclosed that it is sending surveyors to the area to demarcate the boundary — cited as the cause of the conflict — between the two counties.
“We are waiting for government surveyors from Nairobi to come and re-establish the boundary,” Mandera County Commissioner Michael Tialal told the Saturday Nation by phone. Both the Garre and the Degodia live the two counties.
Friday, local leaders among them Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullah, who attended the emotional burial, condemned Thursday’s attacks and pleaded with the public not to avenge the killings.
He said 14 schools had been shut as more displaced residents of border towns fled to Wajir Town. “Wajir county accounts for 10 per cent of the Kenyan land mass yet less than one 100 security officers are in the county. We need more boots on the ground,” said Mr Abdullah.
Wajir East MP Abass Sheikh alleged that the killings were carried out by hired uniformed assailants from Ethiopia.
“This is more than tribal clashes as the weapons used are sophisticated and militiamen in uniform are involved in the fight. Whose army are they?” he asked.
His sentiments were echoed by Tarbaj MP Ibrahim Elmi, who accused the government of giving militiamen space to carry out atrocities.
They challenged the government to take charge of the situation or pave the way for the opposition Cord to provide more effective leadership.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan complained that no government official had visited the area since the clashes started.
In the interview, Mr Tialal could not state when the surveyors would begin their work. But he confirmed that re-establishing the Takaba boundary was one of the issues agreed upon by local leaders during peace meetings.
Last week, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamad told a security meeting attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and his Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo that the row over the boundary was one of the major causes of the conflict.
