30-day curfew, disarmament operation launched in Kerio Valley

Government has Friday imposed a 30-day curfew as well as launched a massive disarmament operation in Kerio Valley and other areas in the North Rift ravaged by armed conflicts.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i met with senior security and National Government Administration Officers at the APTC Embakasi when he made the announcement.

In the directive, regional and county security teams chaired by regional and county commissioners respectively have been ordered to develop and undertake dry runs on tailored election security plans (Security Operations Procedures) within the next two weeks.

Speaking on Thursday’s shooting incident in Maimba along Mombasa road, Matiang’i said that President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered immediate investigations and has also dispatched a senior security team into the area.

The team will be led by CS Matiang’i and IG Mutyambai who will launch immediate investigations, condole with families of the victims and ensure medical attention for the injured.

In addition, the government has declared that it will move swiftly to end human-wildlife conflicts and compensate residents for losses linked to wildlife.

The shooting incident

Three demonstrators were on Thursday shot dead by General Service Unit (GSU) officers while eight others sustained injuries.

The incident which occurred at Masimba Trading Centre along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway was as a result of a demonstration by residents who were up in arms over rising cases of human-wildlife conflict in the Poka Kenyawa Ward, Kajiado County.

A group of irate women had barricaded the busy Mombasa road for hours paralyzing transport as they demanded justice.

According to witnesses, a contingent of the GSU officers in a truck found themselves in the middle of the chaos as the blockade had caused massive traffic.

They then tried to force their way through but the crowd charged pelting stones at the officers who then retaliated by opening fire.

Mashuru Sub County Police boss Charles Chepkong’a confirmed the incident saying police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Kajiado Governor Joseph Lenku has since led county leaders in condemning the incident saying Kenyawa Poka area residents have been left at the mercy of wildlife in a time human-wildlife conflict has escalated.

The victims were rushed to Makindu Sub County Hospital where they are recuperating.