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What鈥檚 behind the violence in Kenya鈥檚 Marsabit region?

The area is under a one month curfew after an increase in violence and deaths

鈥淚 lost a schoolgirl. Eleven-year-old. My first-born daughter. She was just killed in cold blood 鈥 simply because of her ethnicity.鈥

Marsabit in Kenya is a frontier district which borders Ethiopia.

Because it鈥檚 arid, water is scarce 鈥 and over the years the two main communities living there have clashed over resources and politics.

But now the violence has reached a new level: with children and city dwellers killed. There鈥檚 concern that weapons and disputes are being imported from across the border with Ethiopia.

So the government has introduced a month long curfew 鈥 and a police operation, backed by the army - to search for and confiscate the illegal arms. It says it鈥檚 concerned the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.

In response to allegations that they鈥檝e used excessive force during the crackdown, the Kenyan Police Service has asked for the community鈥檚 patience, while the interior minister stressed that the operation would be 鈥榩ainful but necessary鈥.

Africa Daily鈥檚 Alan Kasujja spoke to the 大象传媒鈥檚 Emmanuel Igunza during his visit to the area.

Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

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