Fears of fresh clashes in Mwingi North over influx of camel herders

Tension is mounting in the Ngomeni area of Mwingi North Constituency, Kitui County, with residents raising an alarm over the influx of camel herders in the area and warning that the situation could trigger fresh clashes between herders and the local community.

The residents, who largely depend on farming to sustain their livelihoods, say the increasing presence of camels in the area has heightened tensions, with fears of a repeat of previous clashes that claimed the lives of eight people.

They are now calling for urgent government intervention to prevent the situation from escalating further.

“Kwa sasa kuna ngamia ambao wanaonekana kwa wingi, ambao inadaiwa kwamba wametoka upande wa Kwa Kamari, Tseikuru, na ambao wanaonekana upande wa Mandongo, chini nyuma ya kambi ya jeshi ya Mandongo. Na zile ambazo community inaogopa ni kwamba haielewi vizuri kama kunaweza kutokea mambo kama yale ambayo yalitokea Kwa Kamari,” said Ngomeni Peace Committee Chairperson, Jeremiah Nyayo.

A resident, Kephas Kilonzo, added: “Juzi kumekuwa na issue ya ngamia, ambapo ilisemekana kwamba ngamia waliuawa. Lakini ukweli ni kwamba…Nataka niambie wananchi kwamba local administrators wetu wamekuwa wakitusaliti.”

The fears follow deadly attacks in May and June in the area over conflicts linked to armed camel herders in the region. 

In June this year, four people were killed in a suspected attack by armed camel herders in Itimba-Ithei area of Tseikuru sub-county, Kitui County.

Police at the time said the victims were watering their cattle at a stream about three kilometres from Kwa Kamari, where seven people were killed in a similar attack in May.

The attackers are said to have ambushed the herders, fatally shooting the four before also shooting several cows.