BY HASSAN BARISA
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tribal tension is building up between two communities along the Tana River and Kitui County borders following the murder of a motorcycle taxi operator.
The victim ferries pastoralist livestock traders between Mutomo in Kitui and Woldena in Tana River. Reports indicate the man was killed on Saturday and his motorcycle stolen, prompting anger from his kin who chased away ethnic Somali and Orma traders from markets in Mutomo.
Livestock business at Muthaa market was disrupted on Saturday and yesterday after Orma and Somali traders together with their livestock, were chased away following the death.
Yesterday, several vehicles plying the Hola–Mutomo road were suspended for fear of revenge attacks by locals who were believed to be armed with poisoned arrows. Herds of livestock destined to Muthaa market for sale were instead diverted to Bangale and Garissa County, with traders appealing to the Government to intervene and restore peace between the two communities.
A trader told the Press in Hola town that although the killing occurred in Tana River County, the killers came from Garissa or Wajir. Exonerate locals "Many killings you hear of in the area were carried out by armed herders from former North Eastern Province and it is not related to the Orma herders who have co-existed with Akamba very peacefully. We would like the Government to launch thorough investigations so that the locals are exonerated from the attack," the trader said.
Tana River OCPD Silvester Githungo said that although the matter was not in his jurisdiction, police are monitoring the situation. Bura Tana OCPD Joseph Tonui said several suspects have been arrested in a hideout in Bura Township.