Death Toll Rises to 18 as Fresh Clashes Rock Tana River County
By Amos Sambu | October 12, 2024
Tana River, Kenya – Four more people have been killed in Meti Village, Tana North Sub-County, amid ongoing tribal clashes, raising the death toll in the past week to 18.
Tana River County Commissioner David Koskei confirmed that the latest violence erupted after youths from one community, armed with machetes, attacked a man from another community. Retaliatory action led to four of the attacking youths being shot dead.
Commissioner Koskei added that General Service Unit (GSU) officers mobilized from Bura were able to restore calm in the affected area.
Residents, however, have criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki for imposing a curfew, claiming that police presence during the day has been insufficient, allowing attacks to occur, particularly in the mornings. They have also requested a review of the gazette notice, arguing that business premises and places of worship, such as mosques, should be exempted.
Under the gazette notice issued on October 11, CS Kindiki declared 12 locations in Tana River County as disturbed and dangerous, following consultations with the National Security Council. The areas affected include:
Bangale Sub-County: Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo, Mbalambala
Tana North Sub-County: Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi, Bura
Following the directive, Inspector-General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja ordered residents in these areas to surrender all arms to the police for safe custody.
The clashes in Tana River have been linked to longstanding inter-communal disputes over access to land and water resources, and security agencies continue to patrol the region to prevent further violence.