Friday, December 19, 2014
MOMBASA (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and several others injured after two pastoralist communities fought over pasture in Kenya’s coastal region of Kinango, local official said on Thursday.
Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki said the two communities are demanding ownership of ranches in the area and killed two Somali headsmen and two Maasai when clashes erupted on Wednesday night.
The four were slashed to death by the herders both armed with crude-weapons.
Achoki said the two communities are fighting over grazing right of Kuranze ranch in the area.
Achoki said they have set up buffer zone separating the two warring communities.
He said more security officers have been deployed to the area to contain the situation over fears of more retaliation from both communities who demanding ownership of the Kuranze range.
"We have launched investigation into the incident.
"We are appealing to both communities to maintain peace as we resolve concerns of all parties," Achoki said.
"We are urging them to maintain good relation and coexist until the issues are addressed amicably," he said
Achoki said the government will hold reconciliation meeting to be attended by elders from both sides to try and dialogue with the aim of resolving the issues.
The government official confirmed that security officers have been dispatched to the area to restore order in the area.
The coastal region has in the past witnessed a wave of killings including terror attacks and inter clan clashes in Tana River.
From the Kenyan coast to the northern parts of the country, violence destroys property and displaces thousands in its wake as pastoralist communities decimate each other over grazing rights and water for their livestock.