The security situation in Dukana sub-county in North Horr constituency which witnessed some disturbances after two local ethnic communities clashed over the weekend has improved with normalcy steadily returning to the area.
This follows enhanced security patrols and an operation aimed at bringing to book 30 suspects believed to be behind the mayhem that left four people dead and one expectant woman critically injured.
Marsabit County commissioner James Kamau said the multiagency security team dispatched to the Saru and Dukana areas has so far succeeded in arresting 17 suspects among them four prime suspects who preliminary investigations indicate were directly linked to the crimes committed.
Mr Kamau who was briefing the press in his office said 145 goats stolen during the skirmishes have also been recovered with efforts being made to recover the remaining livestock whose number is yet to be established.
The county commissioner added that the multi-agency security team on the ground which is headed by the county police commander Lenard Kimaiyo was on firm instructions to ensure illegal firearms believed to have been used to execute the heinous crimes are retrieved from the wrong hands.
He further said that the manhunt for the remaining suspects by the DCI detectives was in top gear and assured the residents that the government will not relent until they are arrested and punished.
“We are making good progress as we have managed to arrest eight suspects in Saru and another nine in Dukana and I would like to assure the residents that we are determined to arrest all those mentioned in connection with this crime,” he said and urged for calm and tolerance.
Mr Kamau who was accompanied by the Marsabit county chief officer for administration and cohesion Elema Tache said the altercation left 143 families displaced but the two levels of government have joined hands to provide them with relief supplies.
He added that about 766 people displaced by the last weekend confrontations over yet to be established reasons have been supplied with relief food by the government consisting of rice, beans and cooking oil.
The displaced area now camping at the Dukana Catholic church grounds
The county commissioner cautioned politicians to desist from making pronouncements which could jeopardize the situation and to instead preach unity and harmonious coexistence of the people.
Mr Tache noted that the task to handle the current condition in Dukana was enormous because the affected will require humanitarian support of both food and non-food items in order to avert suffering.
He appealed to partners and well-wishers to help in addressing the plight of the affected as the government sought for a durable solution.
The county security and intelligence committee, elders from the respective communities and other stakeholders are scheduled for a meeting to review the situation and chart the way forward.
By Sebastian Miriti
