Two killed in Marsabit as governor blames State

By Cyrus Ombati and Ali Abdi

Marsabit, Kenya: Two people have been killed in Marsabit County - one in Laisamis and the other in Saku as thousands of families fled the volatile border town of Moyale.

Raiders from North Horr invaded two villages in neighboring Laisamis and shot dead a 20-year-old school leaver identified as John Bosco Neititan at Arapal village, near Mount Kulal on Saturday.

A middle aged man identified as Lokuraka Lekoli sustained serious gunshot wounds and was admitted at Marsabit Level Three Hospital where medics said he was out of danger.

The raiders from North Horr were also reported to have attacked a second village at Larachi where they burnt houses and damaged a water tank.

‘‘The herders from North Horr used guns with aim of kicking out the locals and occupy the land. The attack was purely an expansionist policy by our neighbours,’’ said David Timado, a TNA official in Laisamis. In the second incident, a 50-year-old man was gunned down by unknown assailants on Friday night at around 10pm in Nagoyo location in Saku.

The man was identified as Lopei Kulu from the Turkana community whose home is the Mlima Tatu area, near the scene of crime.

County Commissioner

Sunday, Marsabit County Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru who confirmed both incidents said the Laisamis case was related to resources and land usage while the one in Saku was a domestic issue.

At the same time, Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani has dismissed calls by some Jubilee leaders from the area to suspend the local government over alleged insecurity.

Instead, Yattani wants the Jubilee leaders investigated for fanning hatred and inciting locals to violence.

He declared the issue of security as the prerogative of the national government as he challenged the leadership to ensure there are no incidents of insecurity in the area.

“If someone wants to dispense security based on political allegiance it is unfortunate. We cannot be intimidated. We will not be swayed at all,” said Yattani.

Yattani was accompanied by area Woman Representative Nasra Ibrahim Ibren and members of the county assembly among other local leaders from the region.