12 Dead, 300 Children Seek Refuge in Conflict at Kitui-Tana River Border
At least twelve (12) persons have been killed in recent attacks at the Kitui and Tana River County border.
The Thursday, September 14 attacks resulted in the devastation of property of unknown value, including the slaughter of livestock and the burning of homes.
At the same time, over 300 children have missed school and are presently seeking refuge at various centers for fear of being killed by the attackers.
Mohammed Noor, the county commissioner for Tana River, assured villagers on both sides of the divide that the dispute must be contained before it escalates.
“As officers in the National Administration, it is not our responsibility to determine the boundaries between counties. However, we cannot allow conflict to continue.
“It is the responsibility of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which will handle matters, boundaries delimitation between the two counties,” Noor stated.
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The Kitui community asserts that the Tana River community has encroached on its land, while the Tana River community asserts that it has the right to access the school at the center of the conflict.
More than five hundred families were impacted by the ongoing conflict between the two counties, according to security officials who visited the scene.
The most recent conflict began when a local elementary school was demolished, sparking counteraccusations that eventually reached a boiling point.
There were reportedly intentions to construct a police station at the site where the elementary school once stood before its demolition.
Residents invaded the Police Station construction site in retaliation and evicted the employees.
The residents also torched the location, including the building materials used to construct the Police Station.
Erastus Mbui, a member of the Kitui County Commission, urged the opposing factions to approve the construction of the police station, arguing that it would provide security for both counties.
12 Dead, 300 Children Seek Refuge in Conflict at Kitui-Tana River Border