By Burji Online Correspondent
Heavy gunfire has erupted in Marsabit around the airstrip, Jirime Hotel, Manyatta Jillo, and former Gabra Scheme.
According to some residents, there were at least two loud blasts akin to that of a bomb.
In addition, there are reports of isolated gunshots involving cattle rustlers around the Shrine Kofia Mbaya area.
The area is just adjacent to Marsabit Boys Secondary School and the Marsabit Primary school.
Over the last few years, the town has been synonymous with insecurity, violence, unresolved murder, and vehicle attacks along the highway.
The recent intense conflict started six days ago with the killing of a police officer attached to the Jaldesa Police post by unknown assailants.
Monday this week, three people, among them a nine-year-old class three girl from Little Angels Primary school, were killed at Jirime area of Marsabit.
The deceased girl, Sabdio Salad was buried a day later at her Manyatta Karatasi home in an emotionally charged funeral ceremony.
A day later, two houses and hay farms were torched around the Jirime Hotel in the outskirt of town. Most of the neighbourhood has remained disserted as residents took refuge in safer areas of the town.
Yesterday morning, two people were killed and the other two seriously injured by unknown assailants along Marsabit – Maikona road.
Isuzu box body lorry registered plate number KCF 998Q was ambushed by gunmen around Manyatta Daaba, a few kilometres from Marsabit town.
Similarly, one house was reportedly torched, and an elderly woman was killed in the Manyatta Daaba area of Marsabit.
Consequently, there was confusion during the day yesterday when residents started fleeing the town for fear of escalation as a result of retaliatory attacks.
Today’s fight has seen horrified parents evacuating their kids from school while other residents have been seen fleeing with their belongings to a safer area within the town.
Speaking about the conflict, the Marsabit County Governor, Hon. Mohammud Ali expressed his dismay and urged the residents to come together and speak in one voice more than ever before.
The county boss further called upon the security agency to move with speed to curb the situation.