Four chiefs arrested over Tana Delta killings

Four chiefs are among scores of people arrested after clashes in which 52 people were killed in Tana Delta last week. Read (Power struggles and conflict over use of land fan Tana Delta clashes)

A suspect arrested on Friday was flown to Nairobi for further interrogations over the killings at Riketa Village in Tana River County.

Sources privy to the matter but not authorised to speak to the press told the Nation that the suspect had disclosed 'sensitive’ information that could help the police arrest those behind the attack.

By Sunday, four chiefs, five Ormas and a score of Pokomos had been arrested on suspicions that they had crucial information regarding the attackers believed to have spent a night at a local primary school before their raid.

According to Coast police boss Aggrey Adoli, among those being interrogated were the Kilelengwani chief Abdalla Mohamed Kase and his assistant Ali Kalime Wario.

To quell the clashes, Mr Adoli said elaborate security measures had been put in place and he warned the warring communities against engaging in perennial fights.

Meanwhile, political and religious leaders in the area have asked the Defence and acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji and Livestock assistant minister Dhadho Godhana, to stop their war of words saying they may worsen the volatile situation.

Speaking from a Mombasa mosque, Islamic Awakening of Preachers and Imams organising secretary Athuman Bute said accusations and counter-accusations would not help resolve the clashes.

“We are very disappointed and unhappy with the Defence minister who openly made statements which we think are a threat to the restoration of peace to Tana residents,” he said.

His secretary Sheikh Kea Kifaru called on the government to involve leaders from both communities in addressing the complicated rife between them.

“We urge the Government not to treat symptoms of the attack but the underlying causes of the skirmishes that have refused to go since time immemorial,” he said.

Former Garsen MP Molu Shambaro urged leaders to stop 'fanning’ the clashes through reckless statements that could not assist in resolving the animosity between the warring communities.

Mr Hussein Dado, a former envoy, said those behind the atrocities should be brought to book and answer charges.

Ford Kenya chairman Joel Ruhu said there was need for the two communities to respect each other for peaceful coexistence.