Leaders demand action as 11 die in Isiolo gun fight

Isiolo, Kenya: Eleven people were killed in a gun battle between Turkana and Samburu herders at Attan in Isiolo Central.

The six-hour gun fight on Friday started at 6am despite intervention from a contingent of officers.

By 2pm Friday, police had recovered seven bodies, which were taken Isiolo mortuary, while the injured were rushed to Isiolo Level Four Hospital but later transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital.

“We have just brought seven bodies to the mortuary and going back for four more,’’ said an AP officer who declined to be named since he is not authorised to speak to the media.

He added: “The bodies were strewn over a distance of more than 10 kilometres.

Villagers helped us trace the seven bodies and said there are four more bodies in the bush’’.

Isiolo County Police Commander Nelson Okionga said on telephone from Leruko village: “The place has thick bushes... We are still in the area to assess security situation. The guns are now silent”.

The herders were reported to have initially disagreed over access to pasture and a water point, but it later degenerated into rustling attempt and outright gunbattle.

At least 30 people have died in the conflict between the two communities since last September.