11 killed as tension escalate in Marsabit County

Marsabit County Leaders led by Governor Mohamud Mohamed (2nd R) addressing media after their meeting to resolve clashes in their County at Laico Hotel in Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

Dozens of Saku Constituency in Marsabit County, have fled their homes following the killing of 11 people by bandits.

The victims, who included three police officers, were killed at a watering point as security personnel and the bandits engaged in a gun battle.

Addressing the press in Nairobi yesterday, Marsabit leaders led by Governor Mohamud Mohamed said more than 500 heavily armed bandits attacked two villages in Saku Constituency and made away with an estimated 800 animals.

County police commander Steve Oloo said among the dead included two minors aged 10 and 14 years. Mr Mohamed said two police officers were missing.

The leaders urged the Government to address rampant insecurity in the region.

“We are tired of these rampant killings. These heinous acts must come to an end. We will not allow such insecurity situations to escalate because the attack seems to have been pre-planned yet we have adequate security machinery in place to protect residents and their properties,” the governor said.

Mohamed explained that criminal gangs were killing people at will.

“We are pleading with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i to come to the rescue of Marsabit people. We fear losing the entire county to the control of the dangerous armed group,” the county boss added.

Area senator Godana Hargura urged the Government to deploy more police officers in the region to restore order.

Saku MP Raso Dido said that last month armed bandits descended on a village in his constituency and killed five people among them a quarry man.

“We want the Government to investigate some leaders suspected to be the ones orchestrating conflicts by inciting locals,” he said.