Matiang'i Peace Committees Thwarted In Kitui As Villagers Flee Homes Villagers In Kitui As Fearful Villagers Flee Homes Over Bandits

By PATRICK KIMANZI/MPPRESS Editor

UKASI - Peace committes proposed by Interior CS Matiangi were thwarted by skeptical villagers during a highly charged security meeting at Ukasi in Kitui, local media said.

The fearful residents, who are fleeing their homes in droves amid rising insecurity opposed the move at a highly charged Inter-county security meeting held at the epicenter of the attacks- ostensibly blamed on marauding Somali bandits.

PHOTO: An irate resident puts across a pertinent point to the high-powered peace delegation at Ukasi - as tensions escalated along the volatile Kitui-Tana border©MPPRESS/PATRICK KIMANZI.

"How can we have any consesus with armed bandits who are raiding homes and killing our people? We are tottally opposed to the move by Government to form these toothless security committes" said Mary Mwendwa of Kasiluni village.

High-powered

The high-powered security delegation,
led by Eastern regional co-ordinator Mr Isaiah Nakoru and his Coast counterpart Mr John Elung'ata met local leaders drawn from the two counties in a move to resolve the tensions.

Working in cahoots

The locals are also accusing area chiefs and D.Os saying the administrators are working in cahoots with some Somali bandits (disguised as herders)

One killed

Last week a villager tending his livestock near his homestead was gunned down, making locals flee their homes due to fear of gun attacks.

Volatile region

The affected areas in the volatile region include Kasiluni, Mandongoi, Sosoma and Kathungu.

Ends.