TANA RIVER – The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Idris Salim Dokota, through the Special Programmes department, has spearheaded the distribution of food supplies and blankets to residents of Gwano Location in Tana River County. Speaking at Wenje Primary School grounds, Dr. Dokota emphasized that the government took this essential step to support families affected by recent floods, which swept away homes and destroyed crops in the region.
During the event, Dr. Dokota rallied support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the upcoming general elections. He urged residents to acquire national identity cards and register as voters to drive meaningful change in the county. Highlighting Tana River’s political potential, Dr. Dokota noted that while the county has the capacity to generate over 500,000 votes, it currently registers only about 130,000 voters a concern for leaders seeking broader political backing. He assured residents that the government has structured plans for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct village-to-village voter registration drives targeting all eligible ID holders ahead of the 2027 elections.
In addition to civic engagement, the Principal Secretary called on residents to foster peace and champion harmony within their communities. He criticized local politicians who incite violence, noting that their actions significantly contribute to unrest in various parts of the county.
Addressing the security situation, Tana River County Commissioner Mr. Joseph Mwangi assured the public that stability has been restored following recent security breaches. He revealed that security agencies have recovered over 100 illegal firearms from civilians involved in clashes across Bangale and Tana North sub-counties.
Commissioner Mwangi confirmed that the warring Wardei and Degodia communities have reconciled, surrendered their illegal arms, and pledged to live peacefully. He commended security personnel for conducting a peaceful disarming operation, confirming that all recovered weapons are in police custody awaiting handover to the Ministry of Interior. However, Mr. Mwangi issued a stern warning to individuals still harboring illegal firearms, urging them to surrender the weapons immediately before facing the full force of the law.
