Tana River County Security Team has moved to ease tensions in the Tula area of Bangale Sub County, where five people have been killed following interclan clashes between Orma and Degodia communities.
Led by the County Commissioner David Koskei, the team visited the scene of the killings and later held meetings with members of the public to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
The conflict is said to have been triggered by the arrest of two people on Wednesday morning who were suspected to have been involved in a rape incident.
The rape victim is said to have come from one clan, while the perpetrators are from the rival clan.
The arrest of the two suspects who were taken to the Bangale Police Station caused members of their community to waylay unsuspecting members of the Victims clan at a water point where they had taken their livestock.
Addressing the members of the public in the Elnigha area, Koskei warned that it was both a criminal offence for those who raped a girl and those who retaliated with attacks, and that the law will catch up with all those involved.
“I want us to agree here that what has happened here will never happen again because two wrongs don’t make a right. If I wrong you in any way, there is no reason for you to kill me. We have our elders here and the rule of law, which can bring you justice without causing further harm,” Koskei said.
“We need to have patience with each other because you are neighbours, you are all pastoralists, and you even share grazing areas. This country is big enough for every one of us to live in peace,” he added.
Elders of the opposing clans agreed to have meetings together to resolve their differences and sensitise their communities against taking the law into their own hands.
The Bangale Sub County security committee was also directed to camp in the area until the matter was resolved.
By Erick Kyalo
