A section of clergymen from Namanga have condemned the ongoing skirmishes pitting the Maasai community living in Loliondo, Ngorongoro, Tanzania.
This comes after videos showing forceful eviction of the Maasai community residing in the area emerged. The videos show unknown persons evicting families while brutally attacking them.
Speaking during a peaceful protest held at the Namanga border, the clergymen and a section of human rights activists appealed to Tanzania President Samia Suluhu to intervene on the matter before it gets out of hand.
The clergymen claimed that they have received several families seeking refuge through the Namanga border.
According to them, security agencies in the country remained silent despite quarters losing their lives.
“We do not agree with some statements we are receiving from the Tanzania authorities. Our people have been harmed and killed, some are running for their safety on the Kenyan side.
“We fear that some rogue officers want to mislead the world and cover a chaotic situation that endangers life,” Bishop Daniel Maanta, chairman of clergymen Matapato stated.
Clergy urge authorities to take action on Maasai evictions
While terming the evictions as heinous, the agitated clergymen asked the authorities to take action on the matter.
“We will not take chances and watch as our people die. We want the concerned authorities to come out clean about the inhumane eviction and attacks on our people in the neighbouring country. Our hearts are bleeding and in solidarity, we will stand with our Maasai counterparts,” one pastor Alex Meritei stated.
“We as Maasai women from Kenya have faith and hope in the leadership of our fellow woman, Samia Suluhu. We urge her to come out as a mother who understands the pain of a child to come urgently intervene in the matter,” Reverend Patricia Mbaria added.
