DCI officers arrest Tana River governor, MP over ongoing inter-clan clashes

Detectives probing the ongoing clashes in Tana River County have arrested Governor Dhado Godana and Galole MP Said Hiribae for grilling over the inter-clan conflict.

The detectives said the arrest comes after the two ignored earlier police summonses for grilling over the deadly clashes which have left scores dead and dozens of others displaced.

At the same time, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin confirmed the two were arrested in Mombasa on Friday night and would be brought to the DCI headquarters in Nairobi for grilling.

"They have been arrested and will be questioned over the issue," he said.

He also confirmed that three other MPs were on Friday questioned by police in connection with the clashes.

They include Ali Wario (Garsen) Yakub Adow (Bura), MCA Mohammed Jibril (Bangale Ward) and former woman representative Rehema Hassan.

The move follows an earlier decision by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to declare 12 locations in the county as disturbed areas.

The locations will be treated as disturbed areas for the next one month, the CS said in a notice published on Friday.

"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.

"This notice shall take effect on October 11, 2024, as from 6.30 p.m. for a period of thirty (30) days and may, at any time be withdrawn or continued in force for such further period as the Cabinet Secretary may, in each case, by notice in the gazette, direct."

The 12 locations include Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo, and Mbalambala locations in the Bangale Sub-County.

The others are Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi, and Bura locations in Tana North Sub-County.

At the same time, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also banned the possession of firearms in the same locations effective October 11, 2024.

At the same time, Kanja directed all firearm holders to surrender them to the nearest police stations.

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