Monday, June 24, 2013
President Kenyatta vows to order use of force unless peace is
restored in Mandera and Wajir; asks residents to immediately surrender
arms.
Meeting leaders from the two counties at State
House, Nairobi on Monday, the President said the Government will take
stern action against those who continue to fuel hostilities.
More than 22 people were killed and several others
injured over the weekend in clashes between the Garreh and Degodia
clans in Mandera and Wajir counties.
President Kenyatta directed the immediate
surrender and mop up of illegal arms, warning that if peace is not
restored, the Government will have no choice but to mount an all-out
security operation that may have unintended consequences.
“If the hostilities do not end, we will have no
otherwise but to move in with full force,” President Kenyatta said,
adding that the killings of innocent children, women and the elderly
cannot be tolerated.
The Head of State said his Government will engage
the Ethiopian Government to ensure the peaceful co-existence of all
communities along the common border.
The President also warned chiefs in Mandera and
Wajir counties that they will be held responsible if they fail to take
action and provide adequate and timely information that will help in
containing acts of breach of peace.
If peace is not restored, the
Government will have no choice but to mount an all-out security
operation that may have unintended consequences - President Kenyatta
While the Government does its part, President
Kenyatta said he expects the leaders from both communities to impress on
the two clans to co-exist peacefully as Kenyans.
Saying that the people who perpetrate the
hostilities live among the communities, the Head of State said it was
within the ability of the local leaders to end the violence.
The President added that the Government will
accord the leaders all the necessary help required in ending the
hostilities and directed the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and
Coordination of National Government, Mr Joseph ole Lenku who was
present, to immediately take the necessary steps in this regard.
On their part, the leaders who included Members of
the National Assembly, Members of Senate and governors among others,
briefed the President on the outcome of peace meetings which have been
ongoing.
In this regard, the leaders said that in their
earlier meetings, they resolved that the hostilities between the two
clans should cease immediately and each community must restrain its
members from perpetrating any more acts of violence, failure to which
will lead to a communal fine of Kshs 10 million.
The leaders said they had also agreed that payment
of blood compensation (diyya) should commence with immediate effect and
there should be peace without preconditions.
They also resolved that they must all take
responsibility of their areas in the promotion of peace, equity,
fairness and justice.
The leaders assured the President that they will
convene more meetings and promote dialogue among the two communities
with a view to ending the conflict.
The meeting was attended by Secretary to the
Cabinet, Mr Francis Kimemia, Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General, Dr Abbas
Gullet and top security officers led by Inspector General of Police, Mr
David Kimaiyo.