Scores feared dead as clan conflict rages

Scores are feared dead and dozens injured following heavy day-long fighting between warring clans in Mandera County.

By the time of going to press, only one person was confirmed to have been killed in clashes around Rhamu Town, in which Al-Shabaab fighters from neighbouring Somalia are suspected to have been involved.

The fighting started at about 11pm on Sunday, and continued throughout Sunday with exchange of heavy machinegun and mortar fire without the intervention by security forces.

There were unofficial accounts of up to 15 people dead, but the numbers could not be verified.

A sense of helplessness and gloom permeated the area as officials in Mandera Town, 78 kilometres from Rhamu, spoke of the lack of response from various security units in the county, including the General Service Unit, the Regular Police, and the Administration Police’s Border Patrol Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit.

According to Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, the initial attacks started on a lesser scale on Thursday and ballooned into full-scale fighting on Sunday morning between militias from the Garre and Degodia clans.

“Whilst efforts to bring peace between the two sides are ongoing, I urge the government to take immediate action to end the fighting that has caused many casualties this morning. The army, GSU, RDU, police and APs are based in the town; yet artillery fire is going on in the town. It is inconceivable that they are unable to contain the situation,” he said in a statement.

He continued: “Two nights ago, armed men attacked the town and injured three people. Last night, they attacked a truck entering the town and killed one person, injuring three others. This morning, they started a heavy artillery attack from three sides on the town from 6am, and is still going on.

The government is aware that these attacks are committed by one side against another, in an attempt to escalate the long standing political conflict between the Degodia and Garre clans.”

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo confirmed that one person was killed on Saturday night.
He said a house was burnt and a woman and child injured. A man was also injured.

“The problem here is the leaders (politicians) and we are going to take drastic action. Some of them will have to go to court once evidence is gathered against them,” said Mr Kimaiyo.

HIRING AL-SHABAAB

The police chief said there had been sporadic shooting and that enough officers had been sent to enforce law and order.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba accused the Degodia of hiring Al-Shabaab fighters from Somalia, who surrounded Rhamu Town amid heavy exchange of gunfire since 5am yesterday.

Mr Roba said the fighting was still going on by 3pm when he spoke to the Nation.
An estimated 40,000 people live in Rhamu.

The governor regretted that security personnel had not stopped the attacks, with the military “saying they are waiting for orders from above as people die. They have not intervened to stop the fighting.”

Mr Roba said it could not be confirmed how many people had been killed in Sunday’s fighting as the Kenya Red Cross and county officials could not access the area.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale used social media to urge security teams in the area to restore peace.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the inter-clan conflict in Mandera and ask the warring parties to stop the senseless killings. The security force including the army, GSU and Rapid Deployment Unit must take charge and restore peace and stop loss of innocent lives,” he said.

Mandera County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo said police had been given the green light to shoot anyone found killing another, or burning and destroying property.

Mr Isack Dahir, Abdi Ward Representative in Rhamu, said unknown number of livestock had also been driven to the neighbouring Ethiopia, claiming that some of the attackers could be from across the border.

—Reports by Lucas Barasa, Abdimalik Hajir and Shekhey Mohamed