Tension remained high at Burale Fora and Sabareh, two remote villages near the Kenya-Ethiopia border in Marsabit county after 13 people were killed and nine others injured in a dawn raid by suspected Ethiopian militias.
At Burale Fora, the attackers killed seven people including three teenagers aged between 13 and 15 years, while three others were slaughtered at Sabareh. One of the suspected raiders was killed at Burale Fora.
Police say at least 1,000 head of cattle were stolen during the raid. Four of those injured in Burale Fora and three from Sabareh were in critical condition and were set to be airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
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Last evening, police spokesperson Charles Owino said the raiders are suspected to have been members of the Borana community from Ethiopi while the attacked were members of the Gabra community.
“The census process in Marsabit county is not interrupted and is continuing as scheduled. The water points are equally intact and safe for use by herders,” he said.
Marsabit County Police Commander Steve Oloo appealed for patience as investigations go on.
“There are allegations that the attackers were from Ethiopia though we have not ascertained that. People should be patient for the outcome of the ongoing investigations,” he said.
“The operation is underway and normalcy has been restored,” he added. North Horr MP Francis Chachu Ganya urged the government to beef up security in the area.
Despite the massive police deployment in the region to pursue the attackers, local residents fear Forole Police Station can be overran by the invaders since only four police officers are stationed there and without a car.
Abortive meeting
Oloo said reinforcement was sent to the area but the attackers had crossed into Ethiopia amid claims of slow response. A team of security agents had contacted their Ethiopian counterparts for help to reclaim the animals.
Three months ago, 11 elders from one community were killed at Forole by Ethiopian militia over a disputed watering point following an abortive peace meeting.
The slaughter was executed on Monday before noon in an abortive peace meeting between Gabra elders of Forole Kenya and Borana administrative representatives of Mega-Dhilo area of Arbale region. Locals claimed the attacks are politically instigated pointing an accusing finger to a senior political leader in Marsabit County. Cases of invasion by the Ethiopia-based militia in Marsabit County have been on the rise.
In 2015, Ethiopian soldiers took over Sessi area and allegedly abducted the elderly watchman whose lifeless body was discovered by a contingent of Kenyan forces who responded to the distress call.
The Ethiopian troops were reportedly said to have extended their hunt for Oromo Liberation Front rebels deep inside the country and conducted unwarranted searches at Moyale Sub-District Hospital in pursuit of one of the injured rebels.However, police denied the claims.
