KENYA: Security concerns persist
40,000 families lost their property in Garissa in a bloody confrontation
with the military
ISIOLO, 11 December 2012 (IRIN) - Continued violent attacks on security
agents and civilians highlight Kenya's ongoing struggle with insecurity,
creating widespread unease ahead of the March 2013 general elections.
Some of the worst-affected areas are North Eastern, Rift Valley, Coast and
Nairobi provinces.
In the latest such incident, the detonation of an improvised explosive
device in the Eastleigh neighbourhood of Nairobi on 7 December, a member of
parliament was among those injured. Five people died as a result of the
explosion.
In November, as many as 42 police officers pursuing cattle rustlers in Rift
Valley Province were killed when attackers from the Turkana community
ambushed them in Baragoi, an area of Turkana County. Following the army's
subsequent deployment to the area, some 11,000 people were displaced,
according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Aid agencies told IRIN that efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to
around 8,400 internally displaced people from Baragoi were being hampered by
poor infrastructure.
"The displaced families are scattered. The main factors that triggered the
movement are fear of revenge attacks, more raids, [and the] security
operation. Tension is still high. We are the only organization offering
emergence relief assistance," said Mugambi Gitonga, Kenya Red Cross's
coordinator in the Rift Valley.
Also in November, the town of Garissa, in North Eastern Province, saw some
40,000 people lose their livelihoods during a bloody confrontation between
civilians and military officers. The violence followed the killings of two
army officers by suspected Al-Shabab militants.
The government says it will compensate those whose business premises were
destroyed.
"We are still collecting and verifying the names of those whose businesses
were razed by the fire. The case is being investigated. A number of traders
with stalls outside the market were also affected. We are, however, sure
that this market supported more than 40,000 people," said Mohamed Gabow,
assistant minister for special programmes, told IRIN.
Abdinoor Ibrahim, a trader, said, "I plan to sell my livestock and start
afresh. I will help my cousin, who was shot as he tried to stop the army
from burning my shop, to seek legal redress."
In September, 10 police officers were among those killed when inter-communal
clashes broke out in the coastal district of Tana Delta. A total of 102
civilians were killed in the attacks, and many more were displaced.
Security agencies overwhelmed
The violence and efforts to prevent further attacks have spread the
country's poorly equipped security agencies thin.
"We are doing the best we can with the available resources, but we at times
feel overwhelmed, and we can't be everywhere," Kenya police spokesperson
Charles Owino Hongo told IRIN. "We are getting concerned because some of
these attacks are being carried out with very sophisticated weapons. We must
move quickly and ensure we mop up illegal firearms in the hands of
criminals."
The government says it has begun a disarmament programme ahead of the
elections.
"Nobody, no group, will stop our plan to get rid of all the illegal weapons
or end cattle rustling. We know this group of bandits that attacked and
killed our officers took the action to indicate they are opposed to
disarmament exercises or any attempts to end cattle rustling," Osman Warfa,
Rift Valley provincial commissioner, told IRIN.
Movement
Many families have been forced to move due to the insecurity.
"I have stayed here for over 25 years," said Muiruri, a government worker in
Garissa. "My first-born daughter has just completed university. They will
miss this place. I have moved them to Kitui; it's not my home area. I can't
take any more risks [by bringing] them to my home in Njoro, as I fear
politics might cause another conflict."
Ahmed Yassin fled attacks targeting ethnic Somalis in Nairobi's Eastleigh.
The attacks, by angry mobs, followed an
<
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96822/KENYA-Another-bloody-Sunday> explosion
inside a public transport van that killed 10 people - the deadliest incident
in Nairobi this year.
"How do you expect me to stay in Nairobi, pay rent, [and] feed my family
when all my merchandise was looted? I am here [in Isiolo, Eastern Province]
for safety and to survive," said Yassin.
Aid workers told IRIN that there has also been movement in and out of
northeastern Kenya's Dadaab refugee complex, as Somali refugees seek safety
from criminals, insurgents and security forces.
"Hundreds of Somalis have migrated from Nairobi [to] Garissa. They have
closed their businesses and settled in Ifo, Dagahaley, Kambioos and Hagadera
[camps in Dadaab]. A significant number, almost 5,000, have crossed the
border back to their country," said an aid worker who preferred anonymity.
Rights groups and civil society organizations have accused Kenyan security
forces of using excessive force against ethnic
<
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/05/23/kenya-refugees-describe-abuse-police>
Somalis and refugees under the guise of fighting terrorism and hunting for
Al-Shabab militants, claims the government has consistently denied.
"We don't use excessive force because we are operating within the law," said
the police's Hongo.
He also denied claims the government is conducting a biased disarmament
exercise among pastoralist communities.
"Ours [the government's job] is to ensure that illegal guns out there are
mopped up. The government has no interest in disarming other communities and
leaving others holding guns. We will get every gun available out there
without any discrimination," Hongo said.
na/ko/rz
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Received on Tue Dec 11 2012 - 13:14:00 EST
