By S, KNA
The government has expressed concern that it was taking unnecessarily long to apprehend suspected bandits behind an attack on herders along the Loiyangalani and Maikona sub-counties boundary over the weekend and now wants chiefs to assist in the task.
Marsabit County Commissioner (CC) James Kamau also cautioned media practitioners in the county against sensationalizing and misreporting matters concerning security saying it was fueling conflict.
CC Kamau who was speaking in his office after chairing a peace meeting of elders, the county security team and representatives from the county government asked chiefs and their assistants to aid the directorate of criminal investigations (DCI) in tracking down culprits in the incident that left 3 people dead.
The County Commissioner pointed out that those behind the armed attack which also left another herder nursing gunshot wounds must be apprehended without delay hence the vital role of the administrators in providing vital information on the suspects.
He warned the administrators that those who fail to match the mandate will be relieved of their duties for ineptness.
Kamau added that the pursuit for those behind the heinous act which has sparked out anxiety has been enhanced but that the absence of chiefs and their assistants’ input was delaying the process.
“Chiefs should be the true representation of the government at the grassroots level hence the need to hold them accountable for incidents which take place in their areas of jurisdiction,” he said and directed them to do what it takes so that communities continue to live in harmony.
During the meeting, the social media and local media came into sharp focus with accusations of spreading propaganda on tribalism and hatred between local pastoralist communities at the expense of peace and unity.
The CC warned that reporters and media stations found to incite communities into violence through false news would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“We have come a long way as a county to be where we are in terms of peace and I am warning those carrying out falsehoods as news that incite people into violence along ethnic lines will not be spared,” he warned and asked the relevant agencies to pick up the matter.
The county peace committee vice chairperson Adan Chukulisa while urging pastoralist communities in the county to share grazing resources and water amicably, observed that the turn of events has left the entire county leadership troubled.
Mr Chukulisa pointed out that peace had been restored and residents of Marsabit had resolved to live in harmony with their multi-ethnic composition notwithstanding hence the need to preserve it at all cost.
He commended the government for maintaining law and order which he said has seen locals coexist peacefully in addition to giving room for development.
The peace chairperson called on residents to be calm as investigations progressed adding that those involved in crime should be treated as individual criminals and not linked to communities where they come from.
