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One Killed In Fresh Clashes
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 07 July 2007 07:34
The dead woman, Ms Lucia Ncheere, was shot in the ankle with a sullet and [...] tharaka Nithi County Council chairman, Mr Z. Mbwera, said that the woman was among those who had returned to their farms in the Kioru area of Ntoroni Location in the disputed area.
He claimed that about 30 people believed to be Igembe leaders, in the company of armed administration policemen, attacked the area, injuring three people - one of them critically.
Mr Mbwera said that the victims had returned to their land after an assurance last week by the Eastern provincial commissioner, Mr Francis Mbaya, that all was well.
The Tharaka Nithi police boss, Mr Gilbert Maina, said that the victim was shot as police were trying to quell the fighting. She collapsed as she attempted to escape towards the Gatithini area.
Ms Ncheere spent some hours in the bush before the raiders found her and shot her with an arrow. The body has been moved to the Chuka Hospital mortuary.
At the same time Councillor Mbwera said that the Igembe people had started sub-dividing land belonging to Tharakas who fled the area following last month's fighting.
He claimed that a senior politician from Nyambene had sent adjudication officers and surveyors to sub-divide the land belonging to non-Igembes. The chairman said the Tharaka and Kamba people were staying away from their land due to insecurity and threats from APs and chiefs. He appealed to the Government to send the General Service Unit to quell the violence so that people could go back to their land.
Mr Mbwera said that the Tharaka people would petition the President to take action against the politicians instigating violence.
Meanwhile, tension along the Migori/Gucha border remained high as more destruction of property was reported yesterday morning. Police sources said on Thursday night that about 20 houses were torched and unconfirmed number of residents injured. There was general calm at Ochodororo, where violence first erupted, however.
Migori DC Peter Raburu said police officers had been deployed to Awendo market following rumours that businessmen from the Kisii community had been threatened.The DC assured residents at Awendo and other market centres along the border that their security would be guaranteed and warned the perpetrators that they would soon face the law.
He said the GSU and other police would continue patrolling the troubled area until the situation improved. Mr Raburu said a reconciliation public meeting to be addressed by political leaders, elders and other opinion leaders would be held at Maroo and Ochodororo markets on October 28.
Meanwhile, residents demanded that the Government bar MPs from both Rongo and South Mugirango constituencies from visiting the affected areas or addressing meetings until the situation improved. [...] expressed fear that the MPs are likely to incite the people. The sitting MPs include Mr Dalmas Otieno (nominated), Mr Aluoch Polo (Rongo) and Assistant Minister Reuben Oyondi, who is the South Mugirango legislator.
