3,000 displaced by inter-ethnic clashes

Some 3,000 people displaced by recent inter-ethnic conflict in Isiolo, central Kenya, are refusing to return to their homes for fear of further violence, according to local sources in Isiolo. "People are terrified, they are expecting to be attacked again. Efforts to return them have not been fruitful," sources told IRIN on Tuesday. Many families had moved from their manyattas (dwellings), and were camping at the local district headquarters, or had been permitted to stay in local church buildings, sources said. According to Bishop Luigi Locati of the Diocese of Isiolo, the Catholic Church had been able to set up temporary accommodation for about 200 families, and had been distributing food to some of the displaced. However, many people were still in need of food, blankets, and other household items. Fighting broke out on Wednesday 4 September when a Turkana manyatta at Eremet, in the central division of Isiolo District, was attacked by some 200 raiders thought to be from the neighbouring Borana community, Kenyan radio reported at the time. Six people were killed and some 1,000 head of cattle stolen in the attack. Further clashes had occurred over the following four days at Mashambani, Daaba and Ngabela locations, despite assurances from police that security had been tightened in the district, according to media reports. A total of 14 people have now lost their lives in the clashes, according to local sources. Although there had been speculation that the attacks had a political motive ahead of this year's parliamentary and presidential elections, sources told IRIN the conflict was most likely linked to the scarce availability of good pasture in the semi-arid region. Revenge was also thought to have partly driven the attacks, following a raid by Turkana tribesmen on a Borana settlement in July, local sources told IRIN. They said that although discussions among local peace committees had generated ideas to stop frequent clashes between the two communities, it was essential that government become closely involved in any attempts at reconciliation between the two communities. "These parties have no machinery to implement what has been agreed. It should be the government working to do this," the sources said.