Stop Tana River clashes, government urged

A section of Muslim leaders led by Association of Hajj chairman Hussein Shariff Omar have condemned the ongoing inter-Clan clashes in Tana River county calling on the warring communities to cease hostilities and embrace dialogue amid heightened tension in the county. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

The government has been asked to intensify security in Tana River County amid concern over loss of lives and wanton displacement of hundreds of residents.

Muslim leaders have appealed to President William Ruto to take action to stop the clashes, which have so far claimed 19 lives. 

Nairobi West Muslim Community vice chairperson Hussein Omar, Prof Mohamed Bakari, a scholar, and Generation of Peace chairman Mahmoud Mustafa condemned the violence and demanded a lasting solution.

They also urged Tana River leaders to desist from fueling animosity, saying it will worsen the situation.

“People are dying in Tana River and we appeal to the President to take appropriate action. There is no security in most areas and more people were killed in Meti, near Bura. We appeal for heightened security because people are killing each other mercilessly,” Omar said at event in Nairobi.

The leaders also demanded intensified patrols in affected areas, saying residents had been forced to flee their homes, with some hiding in bushes.

Omar said that one of the major reasons for the clashes is land, noting that issuing of title deeds would end the conflict.

Bakari appealed to Tana River residents to stop the fighting.

“The issues are so minor that they can be solved by the leaders themselves once they sit down because violence has never solved problems anywhere,” Bakari said.

And added: “I would like to appeal to these groups in Tana River to rethink what they are doing. I say this as a Muslim because this goes completely against the spirit of Islam… Islam by its very name means peace and we strongly say that they should rethink what they are doing for the benefit of that area and the country.”

The leaders appealed to elders to sit down and agree to end the clashes.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday declared 12 locations in the county as disturbed and dangerous.

In a gazette notice dated October 11, Kindiki said the order was to take immediate effect and would run for 30 days.

“This notice shall take effect on October 11, 2024 as from 6.30pm for a period of 30 days and may, at any time be withdrawn or continued in force for such further period as the Cabinet Secretary may, in each case, by notice in the Gazette direct.”

Worst affected areas are in Bangale and Tana North sub-counties. They include Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo and Mbalambala locations while those in Tana North include Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi and Bura locations.

Meanwhile, seven political leaders from the county who were on Friday arrested over the ongoing skirmishes in the region were yesterday released on bond.

Governor Dhadho Godhana, Bura MP Yakub Adow, Ali Wario (Garsen), Hiribae Said (Galole) and former Tana River women representative Rehema Hassan were arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers and taken to Nairobi where they spent the night in various police cells.

Also arrested were Chewele and Sallah members of county assembly.

The tribal clashes have seen 15 people killed and several houses touched even as security teams moved in to pacify the area.

The leaders were arrested as police continued to probe the conflict in Bangale and Tana North that has claimed 19 people.

Tana River county communication director Mr Kofa Mrenje confirmed that governor Godhana had been released for recording a statement.

He said his boss was in high spirits after spending two nights in custody.

"He is fine now at his home and I am sure he will not be indicted for the incident," Mrenje said.

The political leaders should not be reached for comment yesterday as their mobile phones went off. The phones were said to be part of the DCI probe.

The leaders had earlier recorded statements with DCI before they were arrested and taken to different police cells in Nairobi.

They are expected to appear in court today in collection with the ongoing tribal clashes that started last week.

In a gazette notice dated October 11, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared the conflict region a security-disturbed area following the clashes.

The state also banned possession of guns in the areas experiencing the deadly conflict for the next 30 days.

In Bangale subcounty, the areas declared disturbed and dangerous are Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo and Mbalambala locations.

In Tana North, the dangerous areas are Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi and Bura locations.

Meanwhile, at least 12 primary schools in the county have been closed indefinitely following ethnic clashes.

The schools which are all from two subcounties, have remained deserted over insecurity after the two communities clashed in a deadly dispute which arose over land ownership and water resource use.

County Director of Education Mr Celestine Mwasaru said that teachers declined to go back to class over insecurity.

He, however, declined to identify the schools that were affected referring The Standard to county security team for details.

"Please, there is a circular given to county commissioners by Ministry for Internal Security for us not to divulge any information touching on security to the press and please don't quote me just ask the county commissioner, " he said on phone.

But efforts to get the county commissioner David Kosgei were fruitless as his phone was not answered.

According to reports, all schools in three wards in Tana North and Bangale subcounties have remained closed following the deadly attacks that left families displaced.

Some of the closed schools were Nanighi, Anole,  Maramtu, Darime, Salla and Ziwani primary schools.