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Three days after the government announced that it will conduct a joint security operation in clash-torn Tana River county, local leaders have been urged to preach peace.

During their meeting with National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) yesterday, the leaders committed to de-escalating the communal clashes that have so far claimed over 20 lives.

“Our message to them as leaders is to maintain peace,” NCIC commissioner Danvas Makori said.

The commissioner said the boundary issue between Kitui and Tana River counties was also resolved during the meeting. He added that the commission has moved to resolve the inter-county conflict, which has also contributed to the clashes in the region.

“We will equally summon the leaders from Kitui, just the way we summoned leadership from Tana River very soon and we’ll have an engagement and discussion with them,” the commissioner explained.

According to NCIC, the security agents deployed in the area have dealt with other localised issues that were causing animosity among the Tana River communities, which led to the death of one person.