Kitui County Assembly Speaker Hon. Kelvin Kinengo Katisya has announced a special sitting slated for tomorrow, September 12, 2024, to address the rising insecurity in the county following recent clashes between Mwingi residents and Somali pastoralists. This follows ongoing tensions, particularly in areas bordering Tana River and Garissa Counties, where conflicts over grazing lands have intensified.
The special session comes just a day after Speaker Katisya, along with several Kitui leaders, accompanied Nguni MCA and Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Jeremiah Mutua to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) offices. Hon. Mutua had been summoned to answer to incitement charges related to the ongoing conflict, in which he has been accused of stoking tensions between the Kamba community and Somali herders.
In a gazette notice dated September 11, 2024, the Kitui County Assembly emphasized the urgent need to discuss a motion of county importance, focusing on security and peace restoration in areas affected by the clashes. The violence has led to loss of life, displacement of residents, and heightened fears of further confrontations.
The clashes, which have been centered on disputes over grazing lands, have prompted local leaders to take a more proactive approach in seeking lasting solutions. Tensions between the two communities have long simmered, with the recent surge in violence making the security situation critical. The involvement of Kitui leaders, including Hon. Mutua, at the NCIC highlights the growing urgency to resolve the underlying issues before the situation spirals further out of control.
Kitui residents are hopeful that tomorrow’s special sitting will pave the way for effective interventions to restore peace and provide a long-term solution to the ongoing conflict. With local leaders under increasing pressure to act, the discussions are expected to address both the immediate security concerns and the deeper grievances fueling the clashes.
This special sitting marks a significant step in efforts to address the escalating tensions, as both county and national authorities focus on finding sustainable solutions to the longstanding conflict in these border areas.
