Inter-communal clashes in the South-eastern region of Kenya have resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people in the last two weeks, according to police reports on Saturday. Security measures have been ramped up in the areas affected by the clashes.
On Friday, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki declared 12 areas in Tana River County as “dangerous and disturbed” due to the ongoing violence, which has involved conflicts between pastoralist communities and resettled flood victims.
Kenya’s national police chief, Douglas Kanja, urged residents to hand over their firearms to prevent the violence from escalating further.
The clashes, particularly severe in the town of Bura, erupted after the county government allocated land to resettle people displaced by flooding along the Tana River, Kenya’s longest river. Local pastoralists opposed the move, arguing that the resettled individuals would occupy their grazing land.
“We have lost 18 people since last month and that is why security has been intensified to ensure no more deaths,” a senior police officer in Tana River County told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“But the situation is very tense now because people don’t want to surrender firearms.”
The arrest of two local leaders, Tana River County governor Dhadho Godhana and local lawmaker, Said Hiribae, for not responding to police summons over the unrest was announced by the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, on Saturday.
The clash led to the destruction of several homes as a significant number of people fled the area.
“We no longer feel safe here because some attacks occur even during the day. The government should find a permanent solution to this crisis,” said Bura resident Mohamed Ibrahim.
Another local added: “It is all about land. The pastoralists don’t want these people who were moved here, and that is what sparked the clashes.”