Press Release
Massacre at Tana River: Government Negligence

The recent conflict that led to the killing of over 60 people, many being Muslims, is deeply saddening. Of even greater concern is that the conflict, which involves two Muslim communities, the Ormo and the Pokomo, the government has shamelessly stated it is unable to resolve the dispute between the two communities. Before going on to explain this conflict, Hizb-ut Tahrir would like to pray that Allah (swt) heals the injured and grants them patience during this difficult situation. Hizb-ut Tahrir/East Africa would like to highlight the following:

• The government through its security apparatus has neglected its responsibilities; one of the most important issues is the security of its citizens. It is shocking that the killings happened near the Kenya Army barracks based in Lamu. As if this was not enough, the government continues to call upon citizens to maintain peace during the upcoming general elections. This is enough evidence to indicate the Government's inability to protect its citizens. Hizb-ut Tahrir realizes that politicians are looking for votes in the upcoming major election. It will therefore come to no surprise when they use these difficult important issues including the land issue, for their personal benefit which will then incite conflicts between tribes.

• The land conflict in Kenya has yet to find a suitable and final solution which frequently results in violent eruptions throughout various areas such as the Rift Valley and Coast. Kenya has locked itself in an oppressive system that favors the selfish and greedy from the bottom to the top. It's not surprising to see that the only beneficiaries of this system are the politicians, since they are able to pillage the wealth of the Ummah, taking the citizens' land and farms and rendering them homeless without water, food, or livestock.

• The solution to the Kenya land conflict is to have a good set of laws in which without any doubt cannot come from this rotten oppressive system as adopted by the Kenyan government. The answer to this conflict exists within the system of Islam which has clearly outlined three types of properties: public, private, and state properties. The Prophet (saw) said, "People are partners in three: water, fire, and land." This Hadith is evidence that public property is Haram to own. In fact the government is accountable and must prevent anyone who wants to pillage, grab, or own it. It is important that implementation of this law depends on a government that embraces and commits itself to Islam and only the Khilafah "Caliphate" which has Allah's (swt) blessings and we expect its establishment any time soon.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative
Hizb-ut Tahrir / East Africa