The cross-border clashes in Mandera County have wiped out almost an entire family leaving just one member who is fighting for his life at the Mandera Referral Hospital.
The clashes which erupted on Christmas eve at Banisa sub county between clans living on the Kenyan and Ethiopian border have left Sheikh Hared Mohammed fighting for his life after his two wives and five children were killed
The latest fighting was sparked over a dispute on water and pasture although the area has been experiencing inter-clan skirmishes over the years with leaders from the warring communities trying to restore peace.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif who is on a peace mission since the fights broke out has once again said that elders from the warring clans have agreed to bury the hatchet.
“I regret that lives have been lost. Camels have also been killed and people displaced, but now have settled the dispute and will distribute relief food across all the clans within the sub county,” said Khalif at a public baraza in Banisa.
“As leaders, we are here today to engage both communities to ensure a return to normalcy,” he added.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba has urged the communities to desist from turning criminal incidents to clan issues.
“When a criminal kills an individual, we should not make it a clan issue but instead follow up the killer and hand over them to police.”