At least 10 killed in Kenya grazing land clashes as drought bites

At least 10 people have been killed in Kenya following clashes over pasture.

According to reports, the 10 were killed in Kom, Isiolo County, in eastern Kenya after fighting between armed herders from two neighbouring communities over grazing land.

It is estimated that 50,000 animals were grazing in the area when the violence broke out.

Police were dispatched to the area to restore normalcy. The clashes come days after a British rancher was shot dead in central Kenya by herders who have been invading farms as they seek pasture for their animals.

Last Friday, Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, ordered the military to deploy to the some of the counties in the Rift Valley that has seen a surge of violence as the drought continues to bite.

In February, Kenya declared the drought a national disaster and the president called for local and international partners to support the government’s efforts to contain the situation.

Out of Kenya’s 47 counties, 23 have been deemed to be facing disastrous drought.

The drought has affected east African countries including, Somalia and South Sudan which declared famine.