Sunday, June 23, 2013

Mandera grenade attack claims 15 lives

Updated Sunday, June 23rd 2013 at 16:12 GMT +3
By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: At least 15 people were Sunday killed and several others injured in Choroko area,Banisa of Mandera County in a grenade attack in the ongoing inter-clan killings.
A police officer was among the injured when a Rocket Propelled Grenade hit a camp that has been hosting Internally Displaced Persons following the ongoing clashes.
A vehicle belonging to a local provincial administrator was also damaged after men believed to be from Gareh clan attacked the camp. There was tension and fears in the area with reports suggesting groups were gathering to retaliate.
This brought to about 20, the number of people killed in three days in the fresh inter-clan fighting in Mandera and Wajir Counties, North Eastern.
Officials said the attack in Banisa happened as the locals gathered to be addressed by the local administrators on the need to maintain peace.
In Nairobi, leaders from the region were holed in a meeting at the Red Court Hotel to discuss the crisis that is now getting out of hand.
A senior police officer confessed they cannot control the attacks and urged the leaders from the region to own up and condemn them.
“These are clans fighting and they can only be solved by the locals who know each other. The leaders know what problem they have so far,” said a senior police officer from the area.

The latest clashes happened on Friday night when four people including a Kenya Police Reservist were killed in Mandera County.
Five others had been killed in Wajir County in similar fighting between Degodia and Gareh clans on Friday night.

The fighting which has now entered the third month has spread from Mandera to Wajir where the majority of the locals are Degodias.
Efforts to contain the clashes have not borne any fruits as all local leaders are living in denial and do not accept reality.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said he was aware of two deaths and eight serious injuries that occurred in the morning.
He added the attackers targeted the local District Commissioner’s vehicle. “It is sad we have casualties but we are doing all we can to address the menace. I am aware of two deaths, eight serious injuries which include a police officer. We are working with the local leadership to address the problem,” said Mr Kimaiyo on the phone. Banisa District Commissioner Samuel Mwati escaped without injuries. Kimaiyo added the DC was on a peace mission in the area..

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