Tana Deadly Clashes Forces CS Kindiki To Declare 12 Areas ‘Danger Zones’
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has officially designated 12 locations in Tana River County as “dangerous and security disturbed” zones.
Kitui leaders step up efforts to end tribal clashes with Tana River County#PDNews pic.twitter.com/nnfWobrrmU
— PEOPLE DAILY (@PeopleDailyKe) October 10, 2024
This comes after 14 people have died as a result of escalating violence over the last two weeks.
Kindiki’s directive, aimed at restoring calm, went into effect on Friday, October 11, highlighting the growing threat to peace and stability in this volatile region.
The gazetted areas cover two sub-counties—Bangale and Tana North—where tensions have escalated into violent clashes. This unprecedented declaration will be in effect for the next thirty days.
It includes the locations of Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo, and Mbalambala in Bangale Sub-County, as well as Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi and Bura in Tana North Sub-County.
This drastic step demonstrates the government’s concern about the deteriorating security situation in these areas, where local conflicts have reached dangerous levels.
Tana River inter-clan clashes
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 11, 2024
Interior CS declares 4 sub-counties disturbed & dangerous
Police officers deployed to quell the skirmishes
Lagat: We are closing in on those behind the attacks
NCIC summons 5 politicians over killings #CitizenFridayNight @lillian_muli pic.twitter.com/X2rmyl6PJ4
Douglas Kanja, Inspector General of Police, followed up on Kindiki’s announcement by ordering residents to surrender any firearms they may have, promising to return the weapons once the security notice expired.
Kindiki, in collaboration with the National Security Council, issued an official gazette notice invoking Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act of 2011, which grants the government special powers to declare an area disturbed.
This enables the state to mobilise more resources to combat the threat while imposing stricter controls on civilian activities, particularly the possession of weapons.
Inspector General Kanja, for his part, cited Section 106 (2) (a) of the same Act to mandate a strict disarmament process.
“Residents in the declared zones are ordered to surrender all firearms immediately, and this must be done at the nearest police station or administrative offices during the day,” his notice reads.
The Inspector General has warned that there will be no leniency for illegal arms possession during this critical period.
6 More Killed In Tana Clashes:
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 10, 2024
6 more people killed as clans in Tana River fight over land
Death toll from inter-clan clashes in Tana climbs to 14
Skirmishes have forced hundreds to flee homes in Tana #CitizenTonight @OBurrows pic.twitter.com/CcwRkuRpn5
Six more people were killed on Thursday in ongoing clashes in Tana River County, just days after eight others died.
The violence, which began a week ago in the Anole area, has since spread to nearby villages, including Nanighi, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes for safety.
The conflict, sparked by a dispute over control of a watering hole in Anole, has left many people injured, some critically, and requiring treatment in local hospitals.
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Last week, the government responded by increasing security in the area, but tensions remain high.
On Friday, police questioned three Tana River County MPs and a local Member of County Assembly in connection with the clashes.
Former female representative Rehema Hassan was also summoned for questioning.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirmed the interrogation of Ali Wario (Garsen), Yakub Adow (Bura), and MCA Mohammed Jibril (Bangale) as part of the ongoing investigation into the violence, which is now in its second week.
Tana Deadly Clashes Forces CS Kindiki To Declare 12 Areas ‘Danger Zones’
