Surrender guns, PC tells Tana River communities

The government yesterday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the warring pastoralists and farmers in Tana River to surrender all illegal firearms before they are forcibly disarmed. Coast PC Samuel Kilele issued the order after a more than four-hour meeting leaders in Garsen. The meeting was attended by senior provincial security chiefs including police boss Aggrey Adoli, area MP Danson Mungatana and leaders from the two communities.

Kilele said he was aware that there were guns in the area, adding that they must surrendered voluntarily before the full force of the law takes effect. "I want the guns and those who have them are known. There will be know reason to hide them because if they are not voluntarily brought by the end of this week, then we shall come for them by force,'' he said.

They were also ordered to reveal the names of those behind the attack on pastoralists in which four people and several cows were killed and house burned houses at Kilelengwani and Kau villages. The incident has been blamed for the tension in the area in the last four day.

Four people including a 110-year-old woman from the pastoral communities were killed while more than 110 households burnt down in retaliation in the violence that erupted early this week. The farmers have butchered more than 500 cattle heads. Adoli said police will launch a major operation in Tana delta area to ensure peace between the two communities.