2012–2013 Tana River District clashes

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2012 Tana River District clashes

| image = | alt =

| caption =

| map = {{Location map | Kenya

| width = 220

| float = center

| alt = Tana River District

| label = Tana River District

| mark =

| lat_dir = S

| lat_deg = 1 | lat_min = 30

|lon_dir=E | lon_deg = 40 | lon_min = 0

}}

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption = The violence occurred in the Tana River District of Coast Province, Kenya.

| location = Tana River District

| target = Orma people

| coordinates = {{coord|1|30|S|40|0|E|region:BG_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| date = 22 August 2012

| time =

| timezone =

| type = Ethnic-communal clashes between Orma and Pokomo people

| fatalities = 118{{Cite web |url=http://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384&Itemid=124 |title=Kenya Red Cross |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206184557/http://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=384&Itemid=124 |archive-date=6 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=385&Itemid=124 |title=Kenya Red Cross |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121220234024/https://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=385&Itemid=124 |archive-date=20 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}

| injuries =

| victim =

| perps = Pokomo people

| perp =

| susperps =

| susperp =

| weapons = Machetes, bows and arrows, spears, handguns

| numparts =

| numpart =

| dfens =

| dfen =

| Footage =

}}

In August 2012, a series of ethnic clashes between the Orma and Pokomo peoples of Kenya's Tana River District resulted in the deaths of at least fifty-two people. The violence was the worst of its kind in Kenya since the country's 2007–08 crisis, which left 118 people dead and more than 13,500 displaced – over 50% of the 13,500 were children, women and the elderly.

Background

The major ethnic groups of the Tana River District are the Pokomo, many of whom are farmers along the Tana River, and the Orma, who are predominantly a cattle-herding nomadic people.{{cite book |title=Guns in the Borderlands |last=Weiss |first=Taya |pages=89–93 |access-date=22 August 2012 |url=http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/Monographs/No95/Chap6.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929143953/http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/Monographs/No95/Chap6.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=dead }} The district is generally dry and prone to drought, with erratic rainfall during the March–May and October–December rainy seasons. The climate has sparked numerous clashes between farmers and nomadic peoples over access to water.{{cite web|url=http://practicalaction.org/peace5_tana|title=Tana River District: a showcase of conflict over natural resources|date=September 2004|work=Practical Action|access-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729131807/http://practicalaction.org/peace5_tana|archive-date=29 July 2012|url-status=dead}}

Approximately ten days before the ethnic clash on 22 August 2012, three Pokomo people were killed by members of the Orma community. In retaliation, the Pokomo people raided Orma villages and burned more than one hundred houses.

2012

=22 August incident=

On 22 August 2012, in the worst violent incident in Kenya since 2007, at least 52 people were killed in ethnic violence in the Tana River District between the Orma and Pokomo groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282214141543505.html|title=Dozens killed in Kenya clashes|date=22 August 2012|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=22 August 2012}} The violence occurred in southeast Kenya, in the Reketa area of Tarassa, near the coast and approximately {{convert|300|km|mi}} from the capital, Nairobi.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/least-48-kenyans-hacked-death-ethnic-clash-111725460.html|title=Over 50 Kenyans hacked, burned to death: police|date=22 August 2012|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Yahoo News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825030352/https://news.yahoo.com/least-48-kenyans-hacked-death-ethnic-clash-111725460.html|archive-date=25 August 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=22 August 2012}}

The ethnic violence was the result of a dispute over land rights for the tribes' chickens. Police believe that the attack was carried out by the Pokomo people, who attacked the Orma,{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/kenya-killings-tana-river-48_n_1821134.html | title=Kenya Killings: Clashes in Tana River District Kill at Least 48 People | work=HuffPost| date=22 August 2012 | access-date=22 August 2012 | first=Mark | last=Hanrahan}} following an Orma invasion of farms belonging to the Pokomo.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/world/africa/kenya-clashes/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 | title=52 killed in Kenya territory clash, officials say | publisher=CNN | date=22 August 2012 | access-date=22 August 2012 | author=Leposo, Lillian}}

The attackers were armed with machetes, bows and arrows, spears and handguns.{{cite news|last=Dixon|first=Robyn|author-link=Robyn Dixon (journalist)|date=22 August 2012|title=In Kenya, ethnic clash over land kills 52|work=Los Angeles Times|location=Johannesburg|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/08/in-kenya-clash-over-land-kills-52.html|access-date=22 August 2012}} Thirty-one women, eleven children, and six men were killed during the violence.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19343995 | title=Kenya clashes kill at least 48 in Coast Province | publisher=BBC | date=22 August 2012 | access-date=22 August 2012}} Of these, thirty-four people were hacked to death with machetes, while fourteen people were burned to death. Four other Kenyans later died from injuries sustained during the attack.{{cite web | url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hzSpZM7qFm-m_-mrfmfBQMPQwPXQ?docId=CNG.ed92e7cadcec523087cb581bce526b2e.321 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125212231/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hzSpZM7qFm-m_-mrfmfBQMPQwPXQ?docId=CNG.ed92e7cadcec523087cb581bce526b2e.321 | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | title=Over 50 Kenyans hacked, burned to death: police | agency=Agence France-Presse | date=22 August 2012 | access-date=22 August 2012}} In addition, the Pokomo captured approximately two hundred cattle belonging to the Orma.

=September incident=

On 7 September, at around 3{{nbsp}}a.m., 12 people were killed by the Orma. The Capital FM stated that12 Kenyans killed in fresh Tana River violence http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/11-kenyans-killed-in-fresh-tana-river-violence/ police and the Kenya Red Cross said the attacks occurred at Tarasaa where houses were burnt, in what is believed to be retaliatory attacks by the Orma people against the Pokomos.

Kenya Red Cross stated that over 300 cattle and 400 goats were raided, and houses torched.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=381&Itemid=124 |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011827/http://www.kenyaredcross.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=381&Itemid=124 |archive-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}

On 10 September, 38 people were killed by the Pokomo, including 9 police officers. The deceased include 16 men, five women, nine police officers and eight children. The officers included five GSU, two Administration Police and two regular police officers. The violence occurred at Kilelengwani Village.{{cite web|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000065858&story_title=Police-officers-among-38--killed-in-Tana-River-|title=Police officers among 38 killed in Tana River|author=Cyrus Ombati|date=10 September 2012|work=Standard Digital News – Kenya|access-date=13 December 2014}}

On the next morning, 11 September, three people were killed by the Orma at Semikaro, Laini, Nduru and Shirikisho villages of Tana Delta.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Three+killed+in+fresh+Tana+violence/-/1056/1503584/-/mjxsh2z/-/index.html|title=Three killed in fresh Tana violence|access-date=13 December 2014}}

On 13 September, more than 1300 paramilitary police officers were sent to quell unrest in Tana River.{{cite web|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?slideshowID=88&slideshow_title=GSU%20officers%20off%20to%20clash%20torn%20Tana%20River|title= GSU officers off to clash torn Tana River|author=Standard Digital News|work=Standard Digital News – Kenya|access-date=13 December 2014}}

On 17 September, at around 5.45{{nbsp}}a.m., 67 houses were torched at Ozi Village – there were no casualties reported. The next day, MP Danson Mungatana claimed that the houses were torched by GSU, sent there earlier from Nairobi to quell the violence.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/MP+claims+GSU+officers+razed+village+in+Tana/-/1064/1511160/-/xka8t5/-/index.html|title=MP claims GSU officers razed village in Tana|access-date=13 December 2014}}

The same day police found a suspected mass grave. Police were issued with a court order to dig up the suspected grave, but found only part of a human leg. A member of Red Cross reported a strong stench from the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/no-bodies-found-in-suspected-mass-grave-in-kenya/|title=No bodies found in suspected mass grave in Kenya|work=Capital News|date=20 September 2012 |access-date=13 December 2014}}

=December incident=

On Friday, 21 December 2012, renewed fighting ensued, with initial reports indicating the deaths of over 27 people. The brutal raid was carried out in the small hours of the morning.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1648922/-/x8wukhz/-/index.html|title=39 killed in fresh Tana Delta clashes|access-date=13 December 2014}} Subsequent reports confirmed that thirty-nine people were killed.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20807736 | work=BBC News | title=Kenya: Tana River clashes leave dozens dead | date=21 December 2012}}

Among the dead were assailants whose corpses were burnt in anger by residents. Police also arrested over 65 suspects in the aftermath of the killings.{{cite web|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000073545&story_title=Kenya-Tana-villagers-burn-up-slain-attackers%E2%80%99-bodies|title=Tana villagers burn up slain attackers' bodies|date=23 December 2012|work=Standard Digital News – Kenya|access-date=13 December 2014}}

2013

=January=

On 9 January 2013, 11 people were killed in fresh fighting when suspected Pokomo raiders attacked Nduru Village killing six Ormas. Villagers countered the attackers, killing two raiders on the spot, and two more as they pursued them. Another assailant died from injuries while fleeing.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Eleven-more-killed-in-Tana-Delta-clashes/-/1056/1661280/-/gxqe8j/-/index.html|title=11 killed in fresh fighting in Tana Delta as DO flees villagers' attack|access-date=13 December 2014}}

Dawn attacks on 10 January 2013 resulted in the deaths of 11 people in the Pokomo village of Kibusu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/1056-1662196-1356pqxz/index.html|title=11 killed in Tana revenge attack|last=Nyassy|first=Daniel|date=10 January 2013|website=Daily Nation|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}} The dead included three women, three men{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} and five children. The attack also resulted in the burning of 19 homes in the village, which is approximately 20 km from Nduru village which had been attacked a day earlier.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/201311082028453451.html|title=Deadly reprisal raid in Kenya's Tana delta|access-date=13 December 2014}} The Kenya Red Cross also indicated that over 112,000 people had been displaced since the fighting begun despite deployment of 2,000 law enforcement officers.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/UN-condemns-inhumane-Tana-violence-/-/1056/1662478/-/9gqc6r/-/index.html|title=UN condemns 'inhumane' Tana violence|access-date=13 December 2014}}

State reaction

The Galole legislator and an Assistant Livestock Minister Dhadho Godhana was arrested and charged with incitement, but was released with a cash bail of Kshs. 500,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Minister+Godhana+arrested+over+Tana+clashes/-/1056/1505024/-/gonf5cz/-/index.html|title=Minister Godhana arrested over Tana clashes|access-date=13 December 2014}}

The same day Kenyan parliament passed a motion urging the executive to send Kenyan defence forces to Tana River. The motion was introduced by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/House+passes+motion+on+KDF+/-/1056/1504964/-/a3tr1c/-/index.html|title=House passes motion to deploy KDF to Tana Delta|access-date=13 December 2014}}

Judicial inquiry

On 22 September, the government set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Tana River clashes, chaired by High Court judge Grace Nzioka.{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/kibaki-appoints-commission-to-probe-tana-clashes/|title=Kibaki appoints commission to probe Tana clashes|work=Capital News|date=22 September 2012 |access-date=13 December 2014}} The full membership of the commission appointed by President Mwai Kibaki is:

Lady Justice Grace Nzioka – Chair
Chief Magistrate Emily Ominde
Principal Magistrate Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan

Assisting counsel are:{{cite web|url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000067427&story_title=tana-inquiry-team-commences-task|title=Tana inquiry team commences task|date=2 October 2012|work=Standard Digital News – Kenya|access-date=13 December 2014}}

Mr Wamuti Ndegwa
Ms Ruth Luta

Among the witnesses who have testified are:{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/I-had-no-role-in-Tana-clashes-says-minister-/-/1056/1642940/-/82ynsf/-/index.html|title=I had no role in Tana clashes, says minister|access-date=13 December 2014}}

Defence minister Yusuf Haji
Coast Provincial Commissioner Samuel Kilele
Provincial police boss Aggrey Adoli
Lands Commissioner Zablon Mabea

Casualties statistics

The following is a table of casualties as captured by Kenya Red Cross as of 12 September 2012.

rowspan="2" \| Date	rowspan="2" \| Village	colspan="4" \| Deaths	rowspan="2" \|Casualties	colspan="3" \| Property lost	rowspan="2" \| Households	rowspan="2" \| Population
class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
Male	Female	Child	Total	House	Cattle	Goat
style="text-align:left;" \| 14 August	style="text-align:left;" \| Kau	2	1	0	3	7	110	198	0	324	1,924
style="text-align:left;" \| 22 August	style="text-align:left;" \| Reketa	6	34	13	53	22	78	60	0	383	2,298
style="text-align:left;" \| 1 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Semikaro	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	200	0	0
style="text-align:left;" \| 7 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Chamwanamuma	15	13	1	17	10	94	200	400	1,094	6,564
style="text-align:left;" \| 10 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Kilelengwani	25	5	8	38	8	167	0	0	200	1,200
style="text-align:left;" \| 11 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Laini	0	0	0	0	0	20	0	0	0	0
style="text-align:left;" \| 11 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Sirikisho	0	0	0	0	0	109	0	0	0	0
style="text-align:left;" \| 11 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Semikaro	4	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
style="text-align:left;" \| 11 September	style="text-align:left;" \| Nduru	0	0	0	0	0	90	0	0	0	0
colspan="2" style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" \| Total	51	43	22	116	49	668	458	600	2,001	12,006