Leaders condemn killing of camels in Tana River

The killing of more than 100 camels in Kalabha and Basin Hargeisa in Tana River County over the weekend by suspected security offices continues to draw condemnation by local leaders who are now demanding compensation or they will head to court.

Speaking in Garissa County, the leaders led by the chairman of the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council Dubat Amey described the killings as “heinous, barbaric and unacceptable.”

Mr Amey said that all the evidence points at the involvement of the security forces in the killing of the camels.

“We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of all the officers involved for abuse of power. The camels are a source of livelihood for many families in this region,” Amey said.

He added that all the families that lost their animals should be compensated at the current market price, adding that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior General Joseph Nkaissery should apologize to the pastoralist community.

“We will explore other options if the government is not swift in addressing our concerns, we are considering going to court,” he warned.

Mr Amey called for peace in the region urging the two warring communities to embrace dialogue to end the perennial conflict.

The camels were killed on the border of Kitui and Tana River counties over the weekend and scores of houses torched by bandits who local residents insist were security officers.

Kitui residents had been lodged complaints to security officers after pastoralists started invading their farms and grazing their animals on their crops. Several Kitui County residents were killed by herders leading to outcry over the menace.