CS Kindiki declares 12 Tana River areas as disturbed zones as police IG bans firearms

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Friday declared 12 locations in Tana River County as disturbed and dangerous areas.

In a Gazette notice dated October 11, 2024, CS Kindiki outlined the affected areas, with the notice taking effect from 6:30 pm on Friday and set to last for 30 days.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in consultation with the National Security Council, declares the following parts of Tana River County as security disturbed and dangerous,” reads the gazette notice.

The areas declared disturbed include Bangale Sub-county’s Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo, and Mbalambala locations.

In Tana North Sub-County, Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi, and Bura locations have also been listed.

CS Kindiki explained that the declaration was made in consultation with the National Security Council, citing Section 106(1) of the National Police Service Act of 2011.

Meanwhile, Inspector General Douglas Kanja has issued a concurrent notice, prohibiting the possession of firearms in the same areas.

Citing Section 106(2)(a) of the National Police Service Act, Kanja directed residents to surrender all firearms in their possession immediately.

“On the taking effect of this notice, all inhabitants of the said areas are ordered, with immediate effect, to surrender all arms in their possession to the nearest Police Station, Police Post, Police Camp, and National Government Administration Offices during the hours of the day for safe custody,” Kanja noted.

The IG pointed out that surrendered firearms will be returned to their owners once the notice is revoked or terminated.

“All arms surrendered shall be returned to their owners upon the revocation or termination of this notice,” Kanja said.

At least 14 people have lost their lives in ongoing inter-clan clashes in Tana River County. Just days after eight people were killed, six more were confirmed dead on Thursday as the fighting between two communities in the region continued.

The violence, which started nearly a week ago in the Anole area, has now spread to other villages, including Nanighi. Hundreds of residents from the affected villages have fled their homes, seeking safety and refuge.

Many of them are injured, with some in critical condition receiving treatment in various hospitals.

The clashes erupted just one week after five political leaders from Tana River County were summoned to appear before the National Unity and Cooperation Commission on October 8, as part of efforts to address the conflict.

On Friday, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) questioned three legislators from Tana River County in connection with the ongoing clashes.

Those questioned include Garsen MP Ali Wario, Bura MP Yakub Adow, and Bangale Ward MCA Mohammed Jibril.