Inter-communal clashes in southeastern Kenya have claimed the lives of at least 18 people in the last two weeks, with tensions escalating between pastoralists and flood victims resettled along the Tana River. Security measures have been heightened in the affected areas, following Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki’s declaration of 12 regions in Tana River County as “dangerous and disturbed”.
National police chief Douglas Kanja issued a directive for residents to surrender their firearms in an effort to prevent further violence. The clashes, primarily centered in Bura town, erupted after the county government allocated land for the resettlement of flood-displaced individuals, leading to protests from local pastoralists who claimed the land as their grazing grounds.
The unrest has resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of homes, and forced displacement of residents. Local leaders, including Tana River County governor Dhadho Godhana and lawmaker Said Hiribae, have been arrested for failing to cooperate with police investigations.
The underlying issue of land disputes remains a significant driver of the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to restore peace and security in the region.