The National Cohesion and Integration Commission(NCIC) has called upon Inspector General of Police to bring to book the perpetrators of the ongoing ethnic violence in Marsabit County.
This comes after at least 20 people in inter-ethnic clashes in the past one month and other 15 people critically injured.
In a statement, NCIC Chairperson Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia also called on the County, National Government, and humanitarian agencies to support the internally displaced families.
“We reiterate that the Commission together with other Government agencies have commenced investigations to bring to book the masterminds of these conflicts. We assure the people of Marsabit and the nation at large that we shall continue to discharge our mandate without fear or favour and will bring all wrongdoers and mongers of hate crimes to book, ” Kobia noted.
Kobia condemned the ongoing ethnic violence between the Borana, Gabra, and Rendille communities as absurd.
The killings has left a number of people dead and displaced thousands of the residents since the beginning of the year.
Thousands of livestock have been stolen and several hundred houses torched.
“We condole with the bereaved and those who have lost livelihoods in this senseless violence. Learning has been severely affected as schools have been shut down at a time when learners are sitting for their end of the term examinations. This is a sad moment for the people of Marsabit County and especially residents of Saku constituency, the epicenter of the violence,” he said.
He urged residents of Marsabit County, especially those in Saku constituency, to embrace dialogue as he warned individuals to refrain from using inflammatory language.
He said the Commission will spearhead the inter-community peace dialogue in partnership with other stakeholders.
Inter-ethnic conflict in Marsabit County has become a complex occurence.
The clashes have been attributed to negative ethnicity, battle over scarce resources, disputes over land boundaries, cattle rustling and local politics.
In the past two weeks, militants carry out brazen attacks in residential areas in towns in broad daylight.
Upper Eastern Police Commander Noah Mwivandah announced that security operations will be carried out in the areas affected by a multi-agency security team starting today untill normalcy is restored.
He said that the government has resolved to conduct military operations following a month of intense fighting between Gabbra and Borana communities.
The operation will target Manyatta Jillo, Manyatta Karatasi, Manyatta Daba, Adhi Huqa, Salesa Waqo settlements, Isacko Umoro and Gabbra schemes and will be carried out in phases.