By Betty Luke
A section of Isiolo leaders and elders have condemned the recent killing of a bodaboda rider suspected to have stolen motorbike spare-parts on Thursday afternoon.
Police reports indicate that the rider was picked by a group of men in Isiolo town and taken to an area within the Isiolo-Meru border where he was beaten up and set ablaze.
Confrontations between bodaboda riders from two communities arose spreading fear and panic in Isiolo town where a number of businesses are counting losses after their shops were broken into by one of the groups.
Tension has been building up in the town where several businesses remain closed for fear of the unknown despite patrols by police officers.
On the material night, rowdy youths set on fire a motorbike belonging to one of the chiefs and are being sought by police.
Led by Governor Mohammed Kuti and Senator Fatuma Dullo, the leaders castigated the perpetrators for taking the law into their hands instead of reporting to police for legal action.
Dr Kuti called for peace saying the attack was not about any particular community or religion but the individuals involved.
“A criminal is a criminal and it is not good to turn the incident into a communal issue,” he said while asking the two warring groups to allow police to do their work.
Borana and Meru elders condemned the destruction of properties in various shops in town and called for ceasefire to ensure peace resumes.
Mr Elijah Mugambi said with the rising tension, leaders must come together and preach peace to end the disputes that have brought the town, which is usually a beehive of activity, to its knees.
Borana council of elders chair Abdullahi Gojobe and Bishop Stephen Kalunyu condoled with the bereaved family and called on security agencies to ensure normalcy.
Mr Mwenda Thuranira who is eyeing for Isiolo North parliamentary seat said the skirmishes could keep off investors and adversely affect tourism and the economy at large.
“Peace is a key ingredient of development and I appeal to our youths to desist fighting each other but exercise tolerance and work together,” the MP hopeful said.
Businessmen Luke Mithika and Jack Githaiga lamented that the tension had seriously affected their businesses and called for sobriety.
Governor Kuti asked elders and the clergy to preach peace at social gatherings to ensure all the communities live in peace.
“It is unfortunate that many innocent residents and business people have and continue to suffer due to the tension and I appeal to the bodaboda operators not to escalate the issue into tribal wars,” he said.
He appealed to bodaboda leaders to meet and ensure their members remain calm.
Senator Dullo said she will together with other leaders meet with the security team tomorrow (Sunday) to ensure a lasting solution to the issue.
At least 14 people including three who picked him in town have been arrested and will be arraigned in Maua, Meru county on Monday.
Residents at the outskirts of the town have since the incident been living in fear as many forced to close their businesses as early as 6pm to evade the skirmishes that erupt mostly during the evening with police officers forced to lob teargas to disperse crowds.
