Governor Mung'aro differs with CS Kindik on Shakahola security operation zone

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has differed with the national government over the alleged securing of operation zone in Shakahola area, Magarini Sub-County, where mass graves have been found in an expansive 800-acre piece of land.

On Tuesday, May 9 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki had announced that the entire 50,000 acre Chakama ranch was under dusk to dawn curfew and any person found there would be arrested.

The statement seems to have expanded the operation beyond the 800 acre piece of land - which is within the larger Chakama ranch- where mass graves have been discovered.

“Any person found within this 800 acres which is actively under investigations and the entire Chakama ranch measuring 50,000 acres any person found making any movement, assembly and meeting between 6 pm and 6 am will be treated as a suspect of crime. At the same area, the entire Chakama ranch is also an active security operation zone and also a scene of crime and for that reason we have limited movement of unauthorized persons who have no role to play in the security operation,” said Kindiki.

However, Governor Mung’aro says that the national government should concentrate on the 800 acres since the other parcel was inhabited by innocent people who might get harmed with the extension of the security operations zone.

“I think people are mistaking that where Makenzi is that area, is Chakama phase three which has those 800 acreage, the rest Chakama one and Chakama 2 are not affected. That land is huge and I don’t think there are many settlements on the 800 acres but there are populations in Chakama 1 and 2,” he said.