A 24 hour curfew has been imposed in Mandera town as fresh violence left another two people dead. This brings to six the number of people who have died in the town in the last two days of raging inter clan fighting. Sources said gunshots were heard for several hours in the town Friday morning.
Several people have been injured in the skirmishes said to have been sparked by a struggle over pasture and water.
The Kenya Red Cross Society in the area says tension remains high in Mandera town following the fighting pitting the Garre clan against the Murule clan.
A statement by the society says the fighting was sparked by a decision by some flood victims, mainly from Murule clan, to settle on an open piece of land.
Those claiming ownership of the piece of land from the Garre clan repulsed them resulting in tension between the two clans.
The town was early this week hit by flashfloods which left three people dead, 1800 displaced, seven wells submerged and a number of goats missing.
Reports indicate that road blocks have been erected on either side of Mandera town by members of the two communities.
The district security personnel have moved in to quell the violence.
Fighting has also been reported at Gari Hills, some 130 km from Mandera where four people were reported dead.
Four security officers wounded in the clashes are being treated at Mandera District Hospital.
The fighting has hampered efforts by the Kenya Red Cross Society to distribute humanitarian aid to victims of floods in Mandera town.
The society has so far distributed 450 non-food items while a vehicle loaded with medicine and other necessities has been dispatched to the town.
According to UNICEF, water supply lines have been fixed while UNICEF is planning to send additional health items including ORS and assorted drugs to the Ministry of Health in Mandera.
However the organization says there is still need for additional food, sanitary facilities, water treatment tablets and other facilities.
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