Eastern Regional Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru told Reuters a group of about 100 armed raiders from Samburu attacked livestock herders from Isiolo who had moved to the Lesosia grazing area due to harsh conditions elsewhere.
“Seven people were killed, three were injured and at least 1,000 animals are reported to have been stolen. Several teams of security personnel are pursuing the raiders” said Nakoru.
Local leaders and civil rights groups protested against the killings and blamed the government for failing to disarm the Samburu communities.
“The government disarmed our people last year and exposed us to frequent attacks from the Samburu who are still keeping the guns,” said Hassan Shano, founder of Waso Trustland Project, a group fighting for pastoralists’ land and resource rights.
“We are losing our animals to drought and raiders,” he said.
The arid region of northern Kenya has seen more and more deadly fighting over resources in recent months and aid agencies predict the situation is likely to worsen as the drought does.
Turkana and West Pokot in the northwest have also suffered cross-border attacks by raiders from Ethiopia and Sudan.