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Clashes continue in Kisii

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Published on Wednesday, 06 February 2008 01:42
Ethnic clashes continued Saturday in western Kenya, where tribal rivalry has stoked mob attacks, a day after the country's opposing political forces reached agreement to take action to end the violence.

Police fired tear gas to disperse youths in Keroka town, along an invisible border dividing people of the Kisii and Kalenjin tribes, said a local police commander who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

He said they failed to disperse the Kisii youths who had set burning roadblocks between the towns of Keroka and Kisii. They were shouting that Kalenjin must get out of the area or face death, the officer said.

In western Kericho, about a dozen homes were set ablaze overnight and the town was blockaded by armed youths manning burning tire roadblocks, said a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The police appeared overwhelmed, even after being reinforced by paramilitary officers. The officer said the youths also grabbed four guns with ammunition in running battles with officers.