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20 April, 2008
NAIROBI - Police on Saturday clashed with cattle rustlers who had crossed into northern Kenya from Ethiopia, killing 15 of the outlaws, a police commander said.
"There was an encounter with the raiders early this morning and officers killed 12 raiders in a fierce exchange of fire," he said, adding that another three rustlers were found dead near the frontier.
The commander, who requested anonymity, said that still others may have died as well, as bloodstains had been detected along their escape route.
"We are still pursuing the raiders, we believe many of them were injured because we have discovered traces of blood in the footpaths into the forest whey they escaped to," he added.
The killings mark a new surge in cattle-related murders.
In 2006, a revenge attack by Ethiopia rustlers killed at least 77 Kenyan villagers, including 56 school children in the worst-ever single episode of violence in the country's post-colonial history.
The deaths brought to 42 the number of people killed this year in cattle-rustling and bandit-related attacks in Turkana district, which neighbours strife-torn southern Sudan and northeastern Uganda.
Cattle rustling has increased in many arid Kenyan regions in recent months as owners seek to restock herds badly affected by a searing drought across east Africa over the last three years.
Long-running disputes over access to water and pasture in the arid ranges have worsened inter-clan ties, complicating the government's bid to restore stability in the dustbowl region. - AFP