Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Transport on the Garissa-Mwingi road was paralysed for more than one hour as Ukasi residents demonstrated over killings in the area. This follows yesterday's killing, where a man was shot dead raising the death toll to three.
Kitui county commissioner Moffat Kangi has ordered for all illegal settlers in the insecurity prone areas to be driven out of Mwingi. Addressing the more than 200 internally displaced persons in Ukasi area of Mwingi East yesterday, Kangi said he will not condone the killings.
He said mwingi residents will not be refugees in their own home. Kangi said the illegal settlers have to leave so that peace and harmony is restored in the area.
“It was very sad to see lorries ferrying residents from Katangini, Engamba, Sosoma and Kasiluni to Ukasi market due to the crimes. Does it mean that locals have to stay close to the police for their safety? This place belongs to locals and I want all the illegal settlers out of this area,” Kangi said. He said the Somali herders have been giving Kambas sleepless nights because they have already left their homes.
The county commissioner said that from July 11, three men have lost their lives. A Somali was allegedly killed by Kambas and the Somali community retaliated and killed a Kamba man the following day at Katangini area.
Kangi said another man was shot dead yesterday at Engamba area by Somali herders. “Two more locals are admitted at Mwingi Hospital with serious injuries. Though the residents have overreacted today by paralysing transport in the area, I cannot condone the killings. Nobody is an island but we do not want murderers either,” he said.
The county commissioner said land, water and boundary disputes have caused the the unrest as Somali herders forcefully invade locals' property. He said the rivalry has led to loss of lives and feeling of insecurity in the area. He told chiefs to take evict the settlers and urged them to report anyone who resists to the police.
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