John Njagi and Hassan Huka
16 November 2009
Nairobi — Demonstrators temporarily disrupted business in Isiolo Town when they blocked roads to protest against the killing of 11 people at Ngeramara in Tigania East District.
The residents, mostly from the Somali community, blocked the highway passing through the town with stones before police dispersed them and cleared the road. Their leaders appealed to the demonstrators not to continue with the protest "because it will be used as an excuse" to disrupt a meeting addressed by their leaders.
"We decided any protests would have scuttled the meeting and our leaders tear-gassed," said one of those who intervened. As soon as hundreds of demonstrators had gathered, trucks full of police officers in riot gear emerged and helped restore order.
The policemen accompanied the demonstrators to Isiolo stadium. The protesters were part of a crowd that was later addressed by local leaders, among them Livestock Development minister and area MP Mohammed Kuti. Most of those killed on Sunday were from the Somali community, shot dead when about 300 raiders struck as they guarded their camels.
Five police reservists were also killed. Administration Police officers were deployed from Isiolo Town to thwart the rustlers' attempt to steal more than 4,000 head of cattle. Isiolo police boss Sammy Koskei said a security operation to track down the raiders had been launched and that one of the raiders had been arrested and an AK-47 assault rifle found in his possession.
"We have deployed enough security officers in the area to track down the criminals," he said. Area chief Francis Mwenda called on the government to provide standby armoured aircraft to track down cattle rustlers. "The raiders are used to the harmless police helicopters that are sent to the area once there is a raid. We need air support to fight the attackers," he said.
Residents from three villages -- Gambella, Kiambogo and Mweronkoro -- have started fleeing for fear of another attack, while local schools have closed down, with more than 1,000 pupils affected.
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