Mandera governor hosts peace meeting following terror attack

Mandera, Kenya: Mandera Governor Ali Roba Thursday organised a peace meeting meant to pacify hundreds of Kenyans seeking to be evacuated from the area following the killings in the area on Saturday.

Tension has been high following the recent attack on a bus by Al Shabaab militants that led to the death of 28 people.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union and the Kenya National Teachers Union have advised their members to vacate the North Eastern region over insecurity.

Hundreds of Kenyans have been camping at Mandera Military Airstrip seeking to be evacuated from Mandera County for fear that there may be more attacks on Kenyans posted to the area.

Thursday, Roba asked locals to provide a safe haven for their fellow Kenyans for the sake of development in the area.

"As locals we should take responsibility of making the non-locals feel safe and protected," Roba said.

Addressing the locals, Roba said it is their children who would suffer if they fail to protect the non-locals since 70 per cent were teachers and 80 per cent health workers.

"The terrorists have no mercy for anyone regardless of religion or tribe and therefore the Somali community equally suffers so there should be no isolated fear among the non-Muslims in Mandera," Roba warned.

The governor assured residents that in future the county government would be employing teachers to overcome the acute shortage of teachers in the county.

"The County government is working closely with the national government to tighten security in the area through deployment of more officers along the borders of Mandera town," Roba explained.

The Mandera County Commandant Mr Alex Mwivanda was also at the meeting and said that security has been increased.

"We would like to assure all Kenyans within Mandera County that with the added security measures the government is taking they should feel secure," Mwivanda said.

On Monday KMPDU acting National Secretary-General Abidan Mwachi told members working in Garrisa, Mandera and Wajir to leave immediately and relocate to their home counties.

Over the weekend Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion asked teachers to stay at home over the since the government cannot guarantee the safety of teacher.