Three killed in new clashes between two communities in Marsabit

Tension is high in a village in Marsabit county following renewed fighting between two communities. 

There are fears the fighting may escalate following the killing of three people on November 14 in Kalo area.

The conflict now pits members of the Gabra and Rendile in the Kanji area, police said.

Police have attributed the new clashes to fight over resources, including grazing fields and water.

The first body of one Roba Qanchora, 40, was found on a grazing field with bullet wounds.

Police said they also recovered two more bodies in the same area with bullet wounds.

Contingents of police were deployed to the area and efforts to contain the fighting are ongoing amid fears of more clashes.

The clashes have been remerging and there are growing concerns they will be persistent following reports most clans are now armed in the area.

The region is facing continuous attacks and counter-attacks from gunmen over political differences and inter-communal clashes.

Dozens of people have been killed and others displaced.

The government had launched an operation in the area in May in tandem with a disarmament exercise targeting illegal guns and ammunition.

This was after the National Security Council had decided to launch 'Operation Rejesha Amani Marsabit' following incessant inter-ethnic attacks that have defied peace initiatives and the lapse of the 30-day window sought by county leaders to secure reconciliation.

Special forces from different police units were among troops deployed to conduct a month-long operation for illegal guns and ammunition.

The animosity between the Borana and Gabra communities has progressively boiled over amid concerns over political leaders who have frustrated previous attempts to pacify the area.

Rival groups have also been armed and transformed into competitive political militias meting out violence on innocent civilians in what has become one the costliest security challenges in the country.