ISIOLO, Kenya, March 10 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and three others injured on Friday when about 30 armed bandits attacked a local trading center in Isiolo county in northern Kenya.
Isiolo County Police Commander, Charles Ontita said the bandits staged a dawn attack at Duse Trading Center in Garba Tulla, injuring three Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) deployed to Isiolo County to help address the insecurity.
"Among those killed is a woman and four attackers believed to be Auliyan raiders from Garissa County. The woman was killed at the scene of the dawn ambush," Ontita said.
A regional government official Kipchumba Rutto said the bandits attacked at about 4:30 a.m. He said nothing was stolen but warned that they were out to kill and cause fear.
Tension has been high in the area following clashes between Somalis and Boranas over pasture and water. The fighting has lasted about three months.
Rutto praised Kenya Police Reservists for responding quickly and said they were pursuing the bandits who escaped. The injured reservists have been hospitalized.
Fighting between the two rival communities have been mostly over control of resources such as water and grazing land but the conflict has also been linked to politics.
Livestock herding is the main livelihood and source of income in northern and some parts of eastern Kenya, and the latest killings threaten to ignite cross-community reprisals and raids that could set the stage for a surge in ethnic fighting in the region.
