A Kenyan regional governor and a member of parliament have been arrested in connection with violent clashes that have claimed 18 lives in the past week.
Dhado Godhana, the governor of Tana River County, and Hiribae Said Buya, the Galole MP, were taken into custody after failing to appear for questioning by police.
The two officials are suspected of being involved in the ongoing violence.
The arrest of the governor has sparked criticism from the Council of Governors, who condemned the manner in which he was apprehended.
“Governors are elected state officers and heads of county governments who are well known to the public,” said Ahmed Abdullahi, the council’s chair.
“The manner in which the governor was arrested is a flagrant disregard to the governor’s rights as enshrined in article 29 of the Constitution and we strongly condemn such bullying.”
The fighting, which began last week, has forced dozens of people to flee their homes and has left several injured.
The Kenyan government has declared parts of Tana River County as security-disturbed areas in response to the violence.