By MN Reporter

The placement of the new Ntimaru district police boss has sparked off demonstrations, leaders tiff rising tension over Kuria inter-clan clashes between Bwirege and Nyabasi.

On Wednesday residents demonstrated in Ntimaru town, while Ntimaru East MCA Augustine Mwise and his Ntimaru West counterpart Francis Magori accused Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama of the tension.

But Migori county police boss Celestino Nyaga told press in his office on Wednesday that there is new police boss for Ntimaru, Lisia Njogu, who will take over from Njoroge Ngige who will be moved to Kegonga with his deputy.

“When the new Kegonga and Ntimaru districts were formed we only had deployed OCPD at Ntimaru town who covered the entire Kuria East area, we got a new one who will take over at Ntimaru while the older officer has been moved to Kegonga,” Nyaga said.

He said the matter is direct as both OCPDs were in their respective offices.

But residents of Ntimaru carrying placards and twigs, and their leaders saw more to the transfer as a political gimmick insisting the old OCPD took away the vehicle and furniture to a bigger and better office at Kegonga built by Kuria East NG-CDF while Ntimaru has been left behind.

“Ntimaru is a border town to Tanzania and because of insecurity we need a fully equipped police station with new offices like the one in Kegonga in Nyabasi area,” Mathew Chacha, a resident said.

Kuria in last polls got Mabera, Kehancha, Kegonga and Ntimaru districts curved out among Bugumbe, Bakira, Nyabasi and Bwirege clans respectively.

“We need progressive development that cuts across all communities, but we should not complain of discrimination again because sadly while Kegonga headquarters have benefited in many CDF projects, Ntimaru hasn’t,” Mwise said in reference to similar chaos.

In 2009 during the creation of the new Kuria East district, over 6,290 people were displaced, 27 injured and at least seven reported killed when members of Bwirege and Nyabasi clans fought over Ntimaru or Kegonga to be district headquarters.

But Kitayama in a rejoinder called the demos, and two MCAs as “childish behaviour of rumours, innuendos and stupidity.”

“Their action should be treated as incitement and they should be held liable of anything happens. This is a serious matter, and should not be treated in a juvenile way,” he said.

He said deployment of police is addressed by the county commander and politicians should keep off the matter.