NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced that the government is investigating several leaders from Marsabit in connection with recent hostilities in the Eastern region County, which borders Ethiopia.
The announcement followed a security meeting with the county’s security chiefs on Wednesday that was necessitated by the recent cases of ethnic killings and retaliations among the communities in Marsabit County in the last few weeks.
Kindiki identified current and former political leaders, as well as some religious and community leaders, as being on the government’s radar as it investigates the hostilities that have led to the loss of hundreds of lives.
He pointed out that some of the attacks in Marsabit were premeditated and had an ethnic angle which he argues poses a threat to the peace and stability of the region.
“We will be fair in probing the recent killings in Marsabit County, and all those found culpable will be apprehended and prosecuted,” Kindiki said.
He cautioned all leaders who have made huge financial and political capital out of intercommunal friction in Marsabit and reiterated that the government will not entertain political, religious, or ethnic persuasions in securing Marsabit.
“My instructions to the County Security team are that a criminal is a criminal, and those behind the killing of people must be apprehended,” he added.
Kindiki also warned security officers against engaging in politics and said that peace-building structures must be reactivated to encourage the people of Marsabit County to live in harmony.
He said that all communities and religions must be brought on board and directed the county security team to spearhead the process.
The Interior CS further directed the security agencies to limit access to the Marsabit Forest and enhance security around the forest, which has been mapped out as the hideout for criminals.
He vowed to deal ruthlessly with the bandits wreaking havoc in Marsabit and warned that the government would not spare anyone threatening peace.
“The same way we have managed to remove bandits and criminals from their hideouts in gorges, escarpments, and ravines in North Rift Valley Counties, we will similarly flush out criminals from Marsabit forest using the multi-agency security machinery,” he said.
