Criminals are individuals not tribes, Madogo residents told

Leaders and elders in Madogo, Tana River county, have urged residents to avoid blaming entire communities for the actions of individual criminals who have been terrorising the area.

This comes in the wake of renewed inter-community tensions sparked by two killings—one during a robbery and the other in retaliation the following day.

Business activity in the town has slowed significantly over the past week, with many traders reporting losses as fear spreads. Residents are now closing their businesses early and staying indoors due to rising insecurity.

Speaking to the press in Madogo, area MCA Juma Ali called on locals to treat criminals as individuals and not associate their actions with entire communities.

“Over the past few days, we’ve experienced tension in Madogo because someone was murdered, and days later, another person was killed. These incidents should not lead to tribalism in our communities. Those people were killed by criminals, not by any specific tribe,” Ali said.

“There are criminals everywhere, and when one kills, it is not the tribe of the criminal that is responsible, but the individual. We want the government to conduct thorough investigations and bring those criminals to justice.”

Abdirahman Abadiba, a Munyoyaya community elder in Madogo, criticised some parents for shielding their children from accountability when they engage in criminal activities.

He expressed concern that many young people in the area have dropped out of school and joined criminal gangs while their parents turned a blind eye.

“If your child drops out of school and starts robbing people, then brings stolen goods home but instead of questioning you accept everything, then you are part of the problem,” Abadiba said.

He urged all communities in the area to embrace peaceful coexistence and shun tribal, racial, or religious discrimination.

“We cannot attract or retain investors if we keep fighting each other. We will be left behind in development,” he warned.

On Friday, members of the Akamba community living in the area expressed concern over being unfairly targeted by some local groups following the recent violence.

Speaking to the press, Garissa-based Kamba community chairman Ngui Mutuvya cautioned members of his community against engaging in crime, noting that the actions of a few could bring harm to the entire group.

Mutuvya urged the Kamba community to expose any known criminals among them and emphasized that every individual will bear responsibility for their own actions if caught.