12 Killed, Three Injured In Fresh Attacks In Marsabit Kenya

By Emily Chebet, MARSABIT Kenya

12 people have been confirmed dead following a Saturday morning attack in the Qulbiqallo area of Marsabit County in Kenya.

Residents say they were woken up by the sounds of gunfire in the 5am invasion, which began in the Dogoicha and Laaqi villages, and later spread to Qulbiqallo.

It is reported that the armed bandits are from the Gabra community and they made away with more than 1,000 livestock, but residents from the Borana community retaliated, leading to a battle.

"The attackers managed to steal 1000 cattle and 300 sheep and goats. After police were notified of the theft, they trailed the tracks of the livestock and managed to catch up with the thieves,” Marsabit Police Commander Robinson Mboloi said.

According to the residents, eight people were killed in the first attack while four others lost their lives in Qulbiqallo.

"Police are investigating and I can assure everyone that we will arrest all those involved,” added Mboloi.

The simmering conflict between the two communities in the area has been ongoing for a long time.

The differences are said to be fuelled by fights over natural resources like water and pasture but lately, livestock banditry and political conflict have been the norm.