Security personnel deployed in northwest

The Kenyan government has beefed up security in the northwest to thwart possible incursions by cattle rustlers from neighbouring Uganda. An official from the Office of the President told IRIN on Tuesday that a "large number" of security personnel were in the area since last week. "The situation in the area is calm, there is no problem," he said. The deployment followed the recent killings of 14 Kenyan Pokots by Ugandan Matheniko warriors. The Pokots had crossed into Uganda in search of food for themselves and water and pasture for their cattle. The official also denied press reports that nearly 5,000 Pokots could still be stranded in Uganda after the attack. "We don't have this kind of report nor evidence," he said. "Moreover, it is very hard to verify who is from the neighbouring country or from Kenya because these tribes keep moving from one side to the other."