Chaos as leaders clash over Meru-Tharaka-Nithi border
Police work to restore order after Meru and Tharaka Nithi leaders clashed at Kaboto market in Tharaka-Nithi County on May 18, 2017. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Chaos has rocked Kaboto market after Tharaka-Nithi and Meru leaders clashed over the border between the two counties.
Hell broke loose after Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa and Senator Kithure Kindiki confronted Meru's Tigania West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Alfred Makau over the matter.
Mr Ragwa and Prof Kindiki became angry when Mr Makau snubbed their peace meeting at Miomponi market near the border and proceeded to visit Kaboto market in Tharaka-Nithi.
The two leaders also seem to have been angered by ongoing plans to build a chief’s camp at Kaboto, some 10 kilometres from the disputed border.
They believe Meru leaders are plotting to take over the disputed area after it emerged that the neighbouring county was financing the chief's camp project.
Police officers attached to Mr Makau opened fire to disperse Tharaka residents who accompanied Prof Kindiki and Mr Ragwa to Kaboto.
The angry residents pelted the officers with rocks, smashing the windscreens of several vehicles.
Police had a hard time controlling Prof Kindiki, who confronted the officers from Meru County, daring them to kill him instead of his people as gunshots rent the afternoon air.
