Residents decry police harassment at Isiolo-Meru border

The Turkana community living in Ngaremara area, Isiolo County, has decried police brutality in an operation to flush out criminals who attacked and injured police officers at Makinya area two weeks ago.

They have accused the police of ethnic profiling and want the authorities to deal with individuals who carried out the attack.

Hundreds of families have already fled their homes with women and their children forced to spend cold nights in camps at Alamach, Emejen and Lotiki areas in Burat ward as a contingent of officers in armoured vehicles continue to comb the expansive Ngaremara area.

Four General Service Unit and six Anti-Stock Theft Unit officers were badly injured in the attack by about 300 raiders with one of them succumbing to injuries while undergoing treatment.

The residents condemned the attack on the police officers and asked the security team to exercise restraint as they hunt down the real criminals and not unleash terror on innocent residents.

The angry locals wondered why, after a similar attack on police officers in Merti, Kipsing and Serolipi areas in the recent past, the government conducted intelligence-led operations targeting the criminals and did not punish the public like is reportedly happening in Ngaremara.

“We do not support the attack on the officers, but you cannot punish the entire community for the sins of a few people,” said Mr Martin Miriti, the founder of Victors Children's Rescue Centre.

Ms Domenica Ekeno said many parents were distraught as their children had fled and their whereabouts were unknown.

She said that fear due to the operation had disrupted learning and halted provision of key services such as health.

“Many parents do not know where their children are and learning for Grade Four, Class Eight and Form Four learners has been disrupted,” said Ms Ekeno while accusing the government of ethnic profiling.

Surrendered guns

Mr Augustine Elimlim said the officers should suspend the operation and work with the community in pursuing the criminals.

Speaking at Emejen area where many families have sought refuge, the residents demanded that the forceful disarmament be done to all the communities.

They vowed to reject the BBI process despite the appointment of former Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal to spearhead the campaign in Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit, saying the government was punishing and profiling the entire community.

The community has so far voluntarily surrendered 12 guns to police.

Isiolo Woman Rep Rehema Jaldesa accused the police of torturing the Ngaremara residents under the pretext of the operation, adding that it had resulted in destruction and loss of property.

“It is so sad that the government has declared a state of emergency on innocent citizens. While we support the disarmament exercise to flush out bandits, it must be carried out without malice or prejudice. The operation against unarmed civilians must come to an end,” Ms Jaldesa wrote on her Facebook page.

But Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi rubbished claims that police were using excessive force in the operation, adding that the government was only after the criminals and the weapons used during the attack.

“We have not received any complaints and anyone who feels aggrieved should report so that investigations are done. Our officers are doing the operation in a professional manner,” said Mr Shambi, adding that 15 people had so far been arrested in connection with the incident.

He said they had names they were pursuing and asked the families that had fled their homes to go back as “they had no intent to victimise anyone” but to arrest the culprits.

Mr Shambi said the assailants were days ago involved in a shootout with police officers carrying out the raid and maintained that all the illegal guns must be surrendered to authorities to ensure peaceful co-existence among communities.