The residents of Tana River, who found themselves in possession of illicit guns, have 60 days to voluntary disarm, after which comes an aggressive government disarmament campaign as the government tries to curb the rise in levels of insecurity.
The ultimatum was issued on Monday, December 23, by Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha in a press briefing where she indicated that the government had launched a series of security responses to control intersclan killings that had gripped the area.
“We’re providing an opportunity for those who have illegal arms to voluntarily surrender them. After the next 60 days, the government will act forcefully on a massive disarmament program,” Onyancha explained.
The warning was also echoed by the Coast Region Police Commander, who stated that security agencies have already launched intense operations in the area in an effort to restore calm and prevent any further bloodshed.
According to government statistics, at least 10 persons have been killed as a result of the clashes while over 1,800 residents have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict. The condition is said to be dire as the government has declared the area where the conflict happened a security-disturbed and danger zone for 30 days.
The security agencies are also hot on the trail of others whom they suspect may be responsible for the violence. Onyancha indicated that there are suspects who are still at large and are allegedly responsible for the violence, while others have already been arrested. The interesting bit, however, is that two of these people who are already in custody are politicians.
Despite the escalating tensions, elder members from the involved communities have come out advocating for peace. This comes after the groups were asked to dialogue, which seems to be the only way the violence can cease.
The elders also supported the government’s disarmament initiative, with some admitting that the proliferation of illegal guns has contributed to the fighting. “Too many guns are in the wrong hands, and that is why the conflicts continue escalating,” said an elder.
The Tana River ultimatum is reflected in a similar order recently issued to the people of Angata Barakoi, whose deadly clashes resulted in an order to crack down on illegal weapons. As the 60-day deadline is set to kick off, the government is encouraging the public to cooperate with the security agencies, as failure of cooperation is likely to attract harder actions as the government fights to create a peaceful environment in the region.
