One killed, four injured in fight over lost goats

Tana River; Kenya: One person was hacked to death and four others were seriously injured in Bora Moyo village of Tana Delta as attackers looked for goats that had gone missing.

Locals claimed over 20 men from the Somali-speaking Galjeel community were looking for their lost goats and raided the village on Saturday evening after they smelt meat cooking.

"They raided the village and hacked anyone they found, saying they had smelt the meat and suspected it was from their animals," said Mennese Guyo, a county representative.

deep cuts

According to Tana Delta Sub-county Commissioner Mike Kimoko, two of the injured were raiders while the rest, and the deceased, were from the Giriama community.

Tension remained high in the area yesterday and police from Witu and Garsen were deployed to pursue the attackers.

Mr Kimoko said three people suspected to be raiders were arrested yesterday but dispelled claims that the attack was connected to the recent tribal clashes between Orma pastoralists and the Pokomo in the area.

"The victim died as he was being taken to hospital. The injured are being treated at Mpeketoni District Hospital. They all sustained deep cuts from the attackers' machetes," he said.

Tana Delta region has remained the epicenter of conflict. In August 2012, over 50 people were killed in the area, while estimates from Government officials in the area say over 118 people have been killed since 2007.

Kimoko said the conflict is often as a result of shortage of pasture and water.