Animosity and tension is simmering among the communities living in Tana River County after one member of the Pokomo river rain community was killed by pastoral herders in Galma Village, Sera location in Tana Delta sub-county about four days ago.
The body of the slain middle aged man would later be discovered in his farm where he was killed by herders who had invaded his land to graze their cattle and would later vanish after committing the heinous act.
Coast regional Commissioner Mr John Elungata while addressing the local elders from the Orma,Pokomo,Wardei,Wailuana,
The regional administrator who was accompanied by the Coast Region Police boss Paul Ndambuki and security administrators from the Tana River County blamed the frequent conflicts on lack of respect between crop farmers and pastoralists noting that the former at times attack the livestock grazing on their farms while the latter deliberately let their animals to freely roam on the farms.
In 2012, skirmishes between farmers and livestock keepers in the Tana Delta claimed more than 100 people and displaced hundreds of families. The conflict ended after the March 4 general election.
Elungata directed chiefs and their assistants to carry out their duties without discriminating against communities which are not from their tribes and clans.
“I have told the chief from the Galma location even if he is from the Wardei Community he should also serve the Pokomo Communities living in his location without discrepancy”, he said.
Mr Elungata said the chiefs who will be lax in their local administrative duties will be sacked.
The administrator encouraged residents and local grass root leaders to partner with Nyumba Kumi leaders, local administration and the police by volunteering information on those fueling the animosity among their communities.
Elungata said the security apparatus within the county will carry out an operation after seven days to flush the illegal herders who have been propagating insecurity and conflict in Tana River County.
Elders who spoke among them, Haji Omar who is the Chairman of the Oromo Community blamed the politician for incitement on land and political grounds.
On his part Dahir Dile, who is the elder of the Watta community urged the local administrators to work closely with Nyumba kumi elders as a way of addressing and solving problems within the communities before they escalate into ethnicity clashes.
Guyo Dalu a community elder of the Mywoyaya community said the hostility among the communities living in Tana River is being fueled by migratory herders from North Eastern without seeking permission from Water and Pasture Committee.