Tuesday, December 2, 2014 Government statement on Mandera quarry attack

 
A picture of State House, Nairobi. State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu (inset) issued a statement on the Mandera quarry attack on December 2, 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP  

By NATION REPORTER
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In Summary

• The statement by State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu indicated that a full statement would be issued later Tuesday.
• The government has sent messages of condolences to the families of those who have lost their dear ones.

State House officials released a statement on the Mandera and Wajir attacks on Tuesday and said investigations into the two incidents have been launched.

State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu indicated that a "full statement" would be issued later Tuesday.

“The Government sends messages of condolences to the families of those who have lost their dear ones and stands by them during this difficult time,” the statement read.

The Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) posted on Twitter that President Uhuru Kenyatta will address the nation on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Esipisu said at about 2am, "heavily armed bandits" raided a workers’ camp at a quarry at Koromey area in the outskirts of Mandera Town and killed 36 Kenyans.

“Survivors of the attack indicate that the bandits numbered some 20 people,” he said.

(READ: ANOTHER MASSACRE IN MANDERA: 36 KILLED)

The attack happened just four hours after three men, all armed with AK-47 rifles, attacked a club in Wajir where they shot dead one person and injured 13 others.

The masked attackers raided Ngamia Club, about 800 metres from the Wajir Police Station and shot indiscriminately at the revellers.

“Immediately, security forces engaged and repulsed them,” Mr Esipisu said.

State House released the statement even as officials of the Raila Odinga-led Coalition for Reforms and Democracy said they would hold a press conference over the attack.