Chiefs put on notice over inter-clan clashes

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Acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji during a news conference at his Harambee House Office after meeting North Eastern and Tana Delta leaders August 23, 2012. He said chiefs will be held accountable for further violence in conflict-hit areas.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By JOHN NJAGI
Posted  Thursday, August 23  2012 at  12:44

IN SUMMARY

• Haji: Area MPs should be at the forefront in peace building efforts between the warring communities.
• Leaders blame politicians over inter-clan fighting.

The government has said chiefs will be held accountable for further violence in conflict-hit areas.

Acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji Thursday did not, however, disclose why the government had issued a stern warning to chiefs, or whether they had an active role in one of the worst inter-community violence witnessed in Kenya.

On Wednesday, forty eight people, including 11 children, were massacred in a fight over water and pasture in Tana River County.

"Chiefs in the affected area are to be held accountable,” said Mr Haji, raising eyebrows as to what could have been the genesis of the conflict involving the Orma and the Pokomo communities.

Mr Haji, who is also the Defence minister, said MPs from the areas (northern Kenya and Tana River) should be at the forefront in peace building efforts between the warring communities.

“I urge area MPs to sustain and intensify the peace process in the area,” Mr Haji said in his Nairobi after a peace meeting with over 10 MPs from the affected regions.

Also present were Internal Security PS Mutea Iringo and senior administration and regular police officers.

The minister said the MPs' role would augment ongoing peace efforts spearheaded by the provincial security and intelligence committee.

Some leaders have also blamed politics for the violence that left a trail of death of innocent people with the Law Society of Kenya asking the government to investigate reports that politicians fuelled the violence.

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In a statement, LSK chairman Eric Mutua demanded through investigations into reports that the violence was politically instigated, and urged the government to take legal action on any politicians found to have been involved.

In what is believed to be a revenge attack, the Orma residents of Riketa village, Tarasa division, deep in the swamps of the Tana delta were set upon by raiders thought to be from the Pokomo.

The attack is believed to be in revenge for another one a week ago at a village called Kau, in Kilelengwani, some 10 kilometres from Riketa, in which suspected Orma herdsmen killed three Pokomo villagers, injured six others, killed livestock and burnt homes.