Moyale remains ghost town after 12 die in Friday gun battle

By Ali Abdi and Liban Golicha

Moyale, Kenya: Moyale remained a ghost town for the second day as reports indicate at least 12 people died on Friday during the inter-clan gun battle.

Civilian sources indicated that both sides involved in the Friday fighting lost its fighters.

‘‘Nine of the fighters from the Gabra side were killed while the Borana lost three,’’ said a NGO official who declined to be named for security reasons.

Marsabit County Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru said there were deaths on both sides adding that police were unable to ascertain the exact figure of casualties.

‘‘No side is willing to tell the number of fighters killed. Police are combing the scene of the fighting to see if they can recover bodies ’’ Nakoru told The Standard on phone from Moyale.

The administrator denied reports that four security personnel, three from the army and one GSU officer died during the fights.

Nakoru said seven civilians sustained gunshot wounds and are undergoing treatment at the Moyale District Hospital.

Civilian and NGO sources put the figure of those injured at 15.