Tension high in Hagadera camp following refugee killing

Tension remained high in the Hagadera refugee camp and its environs for the better part of the day following the killing of a refugee on Monday.

The refugee who has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites was allegedly stabbed by a non-local after they had an argument.

He died while being rushed to the hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble started on Monday afternoon when the deceased engaged in an argument, with the owner of the shop over the price of a knife he wanted to buy.

And it is at this point that the refugee is alleged to have decided to leave with the knife something that infuriated the owner of the shop who gave chase.

And when he finally accosted him, he stabbed him in the neck with the same knife.

Speaking to the press in his office, Lawrence Muchangi, sub-county police commander Fafi said that the suspect presented himself at the Hagadera police station where he is being held.

He will be arraigned tomorrow.

“We have managed to contain to calm down the situation and the suspect who is in custody will be arraigned in court tomorrow,” the police boss said.

So bad was the situation that refugees from different blocks converged and started chasing and attacking all non-locals residing in the camp.

In the ensuing clash, several people were injured and are nursing injuries. Their businesses were not spared either as the products were looted.

The non-locals fearing for their lives are still camping at the Hagadera police station.

Cecilia Mwenda one of the affected urged the security apparatus to intervene and restore calm in the area saying that they had been chased from their homes by the angry refugees.

She said that their shops had been broken into and everything looted calling on the police to apprehend the culprits.

On his part Didmus Araka, a teacher regretted the ugly turn of events blaming the police for their slow action to contain the situation that he said was likely to lead to more bloodshed.

The county security team led by the county commissioner Boaz Cherutich is set to visit the area and hold a security meeting after which a local Baraza will be held to try and calm down the rising tension.