Over 48,000 flee slaughter as trade is hit

Monday, December 23, 2013

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Massive displacement of families and threats of fresh attacks is what can describe the situation in Moyale, where fighting between rival communities has left the northern Kenya town desolate.

Out of the 12 locations that make up Moyale sub-county of Marsabit, eight of them have been left with only a few people in the renewed war between the Gabra and the Burji on one hand, and the Borana on the other.

Moyale has approximately 82,000 people, according to area Deputy County Commissioner Kamunyan Chedotum, who adds that more than 48,000 of them have been displaced by the fighting that started in July before intensifying early this month.

It is only in Bori, Dabel, Somare and Nana locations, where people are still holding on to their properties. These areas, except Bori, are mainly occupied by members of Garre and Sakuye communities, who are not taking part in the war.

Some locations like Butiye, Odda and Heillu are virtually empty and several houses belonging to both Boranas and Burjis have been burned down. Others like Arosa, Gorromesa Sessi and Manyatta Burji have only a few people left.

Fighting was very intense

The commercial border town, that connects Kenya with Ethiopia, is almost on its knees, especially after December 4 when the fighting intensified.

“The fighting was very intense this time as the tribal militias fought for five consecutive days using heavy artillery and it is only the military officers who could separate them,” Mr Chedotum explained and admitted that they do not even have the official number of those who died during the combat.

Why? “The terrain of this area is so rugged, with deep hills and valleys, that our security agents could not access the battle ground to collect the bodies. Besides, every community kept their bodies and buried them secretly,” the administrator said in an interview at his official residence last week.

He is only aware that 29 people were injured as they reported to having been shot in the crossfire. Police had tried to comb the area after the KDF dispersed the fighters but, according to Mr Chedotum, they did not find anybody apart from the remains of food and bones of animals believed to have been slaughtered for the militias.

Kenya Red Cross coordinator Stephen Godana also said humanitarian workers could not access the battle field this time.

He said besides the fighting being intense they had other fears: “If we collected bodies, for instance, who would have owned them?” he said.

The displaced have no signs of returning back.

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