Three more people have been killed in retaliatory attack in Garissa county as leaders call for calm.
The three were killed in Galmagalla,Fafi subcounty on Wednesday in retaliatory attack bringing the total number of those killed to 9
It is alleged that suspected militants from one community decided to attack residents of the neighbouring community in Galmagalla following the killings of their kinsmen earlier in the day.
However their mission aborted after Kenya police reservists from Galmaga responded immediately. In the ensuing shootout, two bandits and a police reservists died.
Earlier in the day,unknown gunmen killed six people who were traveling to Holugho subcounty.
The six who were among eight passengers were shot dead by the bandits after it emerged that they were from a rival clan.
During the morning attack at Bukureu area, within Garissa township, armed men numbering between 5 to 8 stopped a Toyota Probox vehicle that was heading to the border town of Holugho.
They then proceeded to order the 8 occupants out before telling them to identify themselves and which clan they came from before shooting them dead at point blank.
Among those killed were two high school students who were going home for August holiday.
Speaking to the press in Galmagalla town after condoling with the family of the deceased reservist identified as Abdi Adow, Fafi MP Salah Yakub condemned the incident called on the security apparatus to move with speed and arrest those behind the killings.
He said the situation if not immediately controlled could easily escalate to inter clan clashes and claim more lives.
"We are gathered here to lay to rest one of our own who was killed as he tried to repulse the killers. This incident and many others that have occurred before should not have happened in the first place,"he said.
"The reason why we have a government and security officers for that matter is to ensure that the lives and property of it's citizens are well protected. So when we have criminal elements having a field day killing people then as leaders and citizens we have every reason to worried."
Yakub welcomed the planned security meeting slated for Saturday which will bring together all stakeholders, saying it was long overdue.
"This is one meeting that should have happened long time ago. It is unfortunate that we had to wait until the killings occurred, I hope and pray that we will get to the bottom of the incidences and find a lasting solution,"he said.
Meanwhile,Northeastern regional commissioner John Otieno has said that one person has been arrested in connection to the killings.
“We are happy to report that we have arrested one key person in connection to the incident. We are holding him for further interrogation and we are optimistic that he will provide key information that will help in arresting his accomplices,” Otieno said.
Flanked by the county and regional security committee, Otieno further disclosed that a mop up of illegal firearms will soon be carried out and he called on those holding them to surrender them to the authorities.
The RC was also quick to warn those plaining to carry out any retaliatory attacks saying that the government will act tough on any individual out to cause insecurity.
Otieno who linked the attacks to land disputes said that the government was working closely with the relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the disputes.
Earlier, top security officers led by the RC toured the areas to quell down the fast rising tension and called on residents to peacefully co-exist and cooperate with the security apparatus in identifying criminals hiding in their midst and causing insecurity.