Exodus starts from killing fields
Mandera residents wait to be evacuated after 36 people were killed on December 1st 2014. Terrorism suspects could be held up to a year without trial, if changes to the law are implemented. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
- A resident, Mr Abdi Maalim, said schools and hospitals were the most affected by the exodus as few locals worked in these professions.
- Construction was also hard hit as most workers were from outside the county. Most construction work had stopped abruptly in the area. Teacher Ben Muthee said he had only come back for his belongings.
Workers continued fleeing Mandera Wednesday following the massacre of 36 people at a quarry on Tuesday.
Most of those fleeing were teachers, health and construction workers who come from outside Mandera.
Wednesday alone, about 35 workers left by road. A number of businesses owned by non-locals were closed.
Local traders complained that they were incurring huge losses as their customers had left.
About 350 workers had sought refuge at a military camp at the Mandera Airstrip.
The number of people at the airstrip had dropped to about 50 but swelled again following Tuesday’s bloodbath.
They said they feared for their lives following reports that Al-Shabaab informers had marked their houses and they could be attacked any time.
The mainly Christian workers, were leaving the town by road while a few lucky ones were airlifted by military aircraft.
Mr Kennedy Murithi, a government civil engineer said he was searching for transport to leave. “It’s better to leave until security is restored,” Mr Murithi said.
SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS
Ms Fauzia Mohamed, a vegetable trader, said sales had plummeted as most of her customers had gone and Muslims rarely eats greens.
A resident, Mr Abdi Maalim, said schools and hospitals were the most affected by the exodus as few locals worked in these professions.
Construction was also hard hit as most workers were from outside the county. Most construction work had stopped abruptly in the area. Teacher Ben Muthee said he had only come back for his belongings.
“The first killings occurred when I was away but I was here on Tuesday. I want to leave this place forever,” he said.
The government last week tried to prevent an exodus following the killing of 28 people in an attack on a bus.
But workers insist they want to be evacuated even though Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Army Commander Joseph Kasaon have tried to assure them of their safety.
Hundreds of those at the military camp are mainly teachers, health workers, construction workers and other civil servants.
