Ruto pledges more officers for war-torn counties

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and ROSELYNE OBALA

Deputy President William Ruto has pledged an increase of security personnel to the clash-torn areas of Marsabit and Mandera counties to help combat spiralling insecurity and tribal clashes.

This comes as Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani scoffed at the Government’s suggestion to dissolve the county over insecurity and politics.

Ruto said more vehicles and equipment would be sent to the county but warned warring communities against taking up arms against each other.

The Deputy President spoke at a meeting with leaders from the county led by Yattani in Nairobi. Others who attended the meeting included MPs Billow Kerrow, Abubakar Hargura, Nasra Ibrahim, Mohamud Mohammed, Adan Noor, Mohammed Haji and Chachu Ganya. Ruto said the Government would contact their Ethiopian counterparts over complaints that more than 2,000 animals had been stolen by individuals living in the neighbouring country.

He said although the national government would guarantee security, the county administration should cultivate harmony and unite communities in the area.

“The Government will do its duty to provide security for all but the county leadership should ensure that communities live in harmony,” he said. “We have already deployed the army to the area.”

The Government, he added, would serve all irrespective of their political affiliations.

In addition, the Government would guard the border with Ethiopia and provide relief facilities for those who have been displaced.

Yattani had said his people continued to be attacked by security forces from neighbouring Ethiopia and property stolen yet the Government had decided to take a back seat and watch as the problem escalates.

 “Two days ago, residents of North Horr constituency were attacked and 1,800 head of cattle and 290 camels driven away by Ethiopian police and nothing has so far been done,” he claimed.

The governor asked the Government to urgently increase the presence of military personnel near the borders as a militia group from Ethiopia had raided the county on numerous occasions.

The county boss said they were addressing the issue of harmonious existence between the communities by involving them in all the decision-making organs.