8 Killed in Tana River County as KDF, NPS, and DCI Move in to Contain the Situation

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Less than 24 hours into the conflict, the KDF, NPS and the DCI have intervened in Tana River County after clashes left more than eight people dead. The operation is meant to bring peace to an area that has experienced inter clan warfare and other forms of violence in disputes over land and resources. The fighting has been detrimental to a number of families, raised new anxiety about violence, and showed how much violence there is in the area.

Timeline of the Incident

The violent encounter took place within Garsen in Tana River county. As it has been reported from the ground, the conflicts escalated after a confrontation revolving land and pasture between two rival factions for which the county is known. Tana River, located in Kenya’s arid coastal region, is prone to inter-ception for pasture and water boreholes among predominantly migratory societies it inhabits, particularly cows.

They claimed the brawl escalated very quickly, as some individuals had weapons and fought brutally. Eight corpses were reported with other victims seriously injured. Preliminary police investigations report that these dead victims were both male and female members of the two opposing factions. The local government has not disclosed any of the deceased’s names yet since the relatives are still in the process of identifying the bodies at the local morgue.

With violence, conditions worsened and residents of nearby localities abandoned their homes, including some who went to villages further than theirs. The area was said to have a significant number of internally displaced persons by local leaders in view of the ongoing fighting.

The security response: KDF, NPS, and DCI intervene.

The national government rolled in security forces as it tried to restore calm and prevent further loss of life. Kenya Defence Forces mobilized to support the National Police Service, while the Directorate of Criminal Investigations moved in and started investigations into the situation with the aim of bringing the perpetrators before the law.

The multiagency response by the security agencies shows the gravity of the situation at Tana River, which has in the past been flashpoints for violence. In a statement from NPS, the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome assured residents that security forces were fully in charge and that efforts were going on to diffuse the situation. He added that the government would not tolerate lawlessness and that it would do its best to ensure normalcy in the area.

“We have deployed sufficient security personnel, including specialized teams from the KDF, NPS and DCI. Our interest is the protection of lives and property, and that peace would prevail,” Koome said in a news briefing. He further announced that a number of suspects had been rounded up in connection with the violence and were undergoing investigation.

Apart from that, more DCI officers were dispatched in the regions to gather forensic evidence and interview witnesses to establish the causes of the conflict and the masterminds of the clashes. Preliminary reports suggest that organized groups may have participated, and the police are determined to break any networks that could be fueling the violence.

Leaders in North Rift Appeal for Calm

The leaders and the elected members, after the attack, called for calm and asked the communities to embrace dialogue rather than violence. Tana River County Governor Dhadho Godhana expressed his deep concern over the killings, appealing to the national government for sustained efforts to ensure lasting peace and security in the area.

He told the local people not to take the law into their own hands, calling for calm. Governor Godhana added that continued conflict would only bring further suffering and displacement. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in this senseless violence. We must all work together to find peaceful solutions to these disputes,” he said.

They have also urged the government to hasten security efforts and address the root causes of the conflict, particularly land and water resource competition. Garsen MP Ali Wario added his voice to this: “Permanently sort out the land disputes, which have been a thorn in the region’s side for many years.”

History of Land and Resources Conflicts in Tana River

This violence in Tana River is not an isolated incident but rather part of an ongoing pattern of violence affecting this region for many years. It has during those years been a flashpoint of competition for land, grazing rights, and water between farming and pastoralist communities. When the rains fail, there is increased competition for these resources, with tensions running higher and often leading to deadly confrontation.

In 2012, Tana River witnessed the deadliest episodes of intercommunal violence ever to occur in Kenya. More than 100 people died in clashes between the Orma and Pokomo communities. Since then, different peace initiatives and various government interventions have not lessened the periodic outbreaks of violence in this region.

Several experts have highlighted the presence of at least three key long-term drivers that predispose the area to periodic violence: poverty, political marginalization, and environmental stress. Continued expansion of farmland has also contributed to this dilemma, as many pastoralists have aired a view that they are being “squeezed” from their traditional grazing grounds.

Long-term Solutions Promises by the Government

The government of Kenya has once again assured the people that it will put in place measures that will heal the underlying causes of violence in Tana River, and also the areas in the country where there have been violent conflicts. The Interior cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that the government would focus on conflict transformation strategies, addressing land issues, and development plans aiming at sustainable use of resources in Tana River to avert such clash in the future.

“Recent clashes reveal that something more serious is likely under the surface that requires urgent attention. We have the resolve to institute lasting peace and even development in the region,” pledged Kindiki.

Furthermore, the authorities will also intensify the security patrols in the region and enhance the infrastructure for Conflicts Early Warning System (CEWS) to avoid or anticipate violence. In addition, community elders and politicians have been asked to prevent violence through peace building efforts within the communities.