Tribal clashes in Kenya over water access

Fresh clashes have broken out between Kenyan tribal warriors who fought last week over access to water, killing one person and…

Fresh clashes have broken out between Kenyan tribal warriors who fought last week over access to water, killing one person and forcing hundreds more to flee their homes.

The weekend clashes about 100 kilometres southwest of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, pitted red-robed members of the Maasai tribe armed with spears and bows and arrows against their Kikuyu neighbours.

They were apparent revenge attacks after members of the two tribes clashed northwest of Nairobi last week, killing 17 people.

At least 10 people were wounded in the latest attacks.

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The weekend violence was the latest in a series of clashes that have broken out in various parts of Kenya this year, mainly involving rival tribal communities competing for access to pasture or water rights.

President Mwai Kibaki has pledged to crack down on the perpetrators of the violence, but locals complain of a lack of protection by security personnel in the affected areas.

The clashes are affecting economic activities in area, where farming has been suspended and the livestock business crippled," District Commissioner Mr John Egesa said.