Tana River, KENYA: Tana River County security department has deployed specialized security units in improving security along the borders of Tana River County ahead of the festive season.
The units have been deployed to provide security and counter any terror threats that may emerge along the border and most especially from Lamu County.
Speaking to Baraka FM on Friday, County Commissioner Oningoi Ole Sossio said proper measures have been put in place to ensure residents of Tana River have peaceful celebrations.
“We have put in place all the security measures we need to guarantee Tana people a peaceful festive season just like any other normal Kenyan,” He said
The County Commissioner also added that they did not expect any communal conflicts within the county, saying that the county has been raining and there is enough pasture for their livestock.
Furthermore, he raised a concern over the mass movement of pastoralists with their animals from the Boni forest, saying that the pasture may not be sufficient for the pastoralists to share as it had not rained enough in some places.
However, he said that would be no cause for alarm as they were working on measures to ensure the communities are living harmoniously.
Mr. Sosio urged churches and discos to lias their night ceremony with the security agencies in order to be assigned security personnel to protect their activities.
“We do not have any problem with night discos and church vigils during the festive season, provided that we are informed so that we can provide security. We cannot take chances with our security during this festive season.” He said.
The County Commissioner has also warned people who may have plans to disrupt the peace in the county, telling them they would face harsh penalties if caught up with.
“We will not take lightly those who move around with weapons of any kind. Be it machines or sharp objects as such heighten crime in the county, and have been used to disrupt peace before.”
He said the only people allowed to walk around with weapons are the police, and called upon any individual with illegal weapons to hand them over to the police before they are arrested in their possession.
