Published on Wednesday, 17th September 2008 By david ochami

Fifteen people have been killed in fighting between Garre and Murule clans in Mandera East.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti claimed foreign militia had participated in the killings. Mr. Saitoti, what foreign militia are you talking about

On Monday, Saitoti met several MPs and Cabinet minister Muhammad Elmi from North Eastern Province to discuss the matter.

The leaders formed a 12-member committee (six from either clan) and three arbitrators to mediate the conflict over land, water and territory that has simmered since last year’s district boundary changes.

"The number of people killed is fifteen. In such conflicts among pastoralists, communities tend to seek the support of their people across the border. This happened in this conflict," said Saitoti.

Security deployed

He added police and military had been deployed to stem the violence.

"A state of normalcy and stability must be restored. Nothing can be addressed in a state of tension," said the minister who added the Government would respond forcefully if the clans failed to observe a ceasefire.

Elmi said all local MPs support the restoration of the rule of law, pending mediation.

Deputy Speaker and Lagdera MP Farah Maalim said NEP MPs had turned the page on a culture of warlordism and asked local clans to co-exist.

Others present were Mandera Central MP Hussein Muhammad Abdikadir and Muhamud Maalim of Mandera West.

Meanwhile youth and religious groups from the province have accused the Government of ignoring the violence and asked the fighting communities to cease chaos.

The fighting has engendered massive deportation of civilians and disruption of school.

cycle of violence

                                                                                                    

Is Kenyan government policies bias against the Gharri people or is it corrupted officials who violated their oats to serve all Kenyan? by Gur Gharri GSG News  contributor:Wednesday, 17th September 2008

We have learned that the Kenyan military personnel and police forces have been deployed to safe guard all Murale villages, while all able bodied Murale males, old and young including students deployed out to kill innocent Gharri women, children, and the elderly that resides at Elele, Qura Muddow, Wargadud and Sukella Tinfa.

Over thousand Murale Mobs armed with automatic machine guns and machetes have been gathering at Gharri Hill, and near Alango, ready to attack the Gharri villages of Elele, Qura Muddow and Wargadud. But, there is not one single government troops either it be APs, regular police personnel and or military sent there to protect the women, children and vulnerable elders.

This selective protectionism clearly shows how the government of Kenya becomes employee of the highest bidder and those who have the means and willing to pay could achieve its means. But those who have not suffer and become subservient of those with the means.

The Gharri people should defend themselves against all enemies regardless of the titles or what those perpetrators wear. Since there is not prudent media outlet and other agencies in the entire North Eastern Province of Kenya, bias government polices and imported corrupted Kikuyu individuals have been thriving in our land with out transparencies.

In the free society, people elect its representatives and entitled to let their voices be heard. But, in this corrupted Kenyan government, freedom is bought by the highest bidder therefore lacks an ethical judgment.

Also, the existing media outlets are themselves corrupted and their services are for sale. Therefore, they either report distorted facts or no facts at all in their report as you evidenced in the above report by Standard staff. "Internal Security Minister George Saitoti claimed foreign militia had participated in the killings."  What foreign militia is he talking about?

Because of this kind of bias and one-sided and biased information, thousands of atrocities have gone unnoticed or unreported all together in the Gharri Districts.

For that reasons, the Gharri people should not rely on the words of the so called security personnel, but be vigilant and defend their children, their homes, and their land from all intruders.

Victory to the Gharri people, down with enemies.