Suspected Ethiopian rebels kill three Kenyan police, seven civilians
By Stephen Muiruri and Muchemi Wachira, The Kenyan Daily Nation
NAIROBI, June 1, 2005 — Seven Kenyans have been shot dead by suspected Ethiopian rebels in attacks on manyattas villages near the common border.
Three police reservists, a child and three elderly men were shot dead when the gunmen, said to be members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), crossed the border and launched a series of attacks on the Kenyan soil. Five other people sustained gunshot wounds and they were admitted to Marsabit District Hospital.
The killing took place at El-Hadi in Balesa Location in the district. A fierce gun battle was reported near Forolle police post as Kenyan security officers tried to repulse the attackers. Police said the raiders stole 10,400 goats, 380 camels and an unknown number of cattle, which they drove across the border.
The fighting has claimed about 10 Kenyans since Thursday last week 26 May, when a 72-year-old man was shot dead.
North Horr MP Bonaya Godana, in whose constituency the attack occurred, told the Nation by telephone from Marsabit Town that hundreds of families had fled their homes fearing they could be killed by the raiders. “Women, children and men have fled their homes and they don’t know if the raiders will follow them tonight and kill them,” he said.
Dr Godana said there have been systematic attacks by Ethiopian rebels for the past six days on a 100 km stretch of the border. He said he had spoken to the Internal Security Minister John Michuki, Permanent Secretary Cyrus Gituai, and the provincial administration in Embu about the state of insecurity on the border. “They assured me they were sending helicopters and additional officers from Nairobi but I haven’t seen them,” he said.
“The Government needs to engage the Ethiopian government in diplomatic talks if the fighting has to stop,” said Dr Godana. The MP said that the raids could be linked to the violence sparked by elections held in Ethiopia three weeks ago.
District Commissioner Muthui Katee said three Kenyans were killed on Monday evening 30 May at El-Hadhii Village in North Horr Division by the Oromo militias, who also stole their livestock. “The Ethiopians had crossed over the border and attacked the village where they escaped with 40 camels and 400 goats,” the DC said yesterday.
But the coordinator of Marsabit Catholic diocese, Mr James Galgalo, said four people were killed. They were from Gabra community. The attackers, according to Mr Galgalo, were from the Borana community and they belong to OLF. Both the Gabras and Boranas share a common language.
Before launching the Monday attack, Mr Katee said, Kenyans had killed an Ethiopian and injured two of his colleagues. “But I cannot say that it was a revenge mission because we have had such kinds of attacks in the past,” he told the Nation.
The DC said they would hold a joint meeting with their Ethiopian counterparts over raids tomorrow. “The meeting will discuss how peace can be restored in the area,” he added.
During the raid Mr Katee said there was an exchange of fire where Kenyans managed to kill the Ethiopian man. “But a combined team of Kenyan security forces backed by the Kenya Police Reservists managed to follow up the raiders and recovered 50 camels,” the DC said.
The incident had occurred on Thursday last week but the body of the Ethiopian according to Mr Katee was discovered the following day