[Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden who is demanding justice for the families which lost over 100 camels in Tana River two weeks ago.](he-star.co.ke)Debate over the killing of more than 100 camels in Tana River has taken a new twist as leaders call for the compensation of families that lost the animals.
Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden at the same time tasked security officers deployed in Tana River to tell Kenyans who shot and killed over 100 camels in Tana River last Saturday.
Aden described the attack as an act of economic sabotage saying security personnel in the area should be held responsible for the “unfortunate incident.”
“We demand justice. The security teams in Tana River and Kitui counties should be held responsible for the atrocities. Many of the affected pastoral families migrated from Garissa, particularly from my constituency in search of pasture for their animals,” the MP said.
The killings which took place in Kalabha and Besan Hergessa in Bangale division are said to have been executed by police officers who are also claimed to have burnt manyattas.
On Thursday, leaders from the pastoral community led by the chairman of the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council, Dubat Amey described the killings as “heinous, barbaric and unacceptable in this time and era”.
He accused security officers in the area of killing the animals demanding for the immediate arrest of and prosecution of the officers involved.
Amey said all families that lost their animals should be compensated urging warring communities in the area to embrace dialogue. He asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to apologise over the incident.
“God in His wisdom put all of us in this country. We have elders who can reconcile and bring peace between communities. There is no justification for killing our animals. We want to tell the police that livestock, especially camels, are a national asset that cannot be played around with.”
Garissa women representative Shukran Gure described the incident as a “war by the government against its own innocent citizens”.
“The Jubilee government is trying to create a rift between two neighbouring communities. We will not accept this as leaders of this area because we have lived peacefully for decades,” she said.