Eleven people have been killed in renewed violence in the troubled Tana Delta in the Southeastern part of Kenya. Armed raiders allegedly from a neigbouring community struck Nduru village early on Wednesday shooting indiscriminately in what witnesses described as a “hit and run” attack.

This attack comes in the wake of ethnic killings in the Delta area that has been witnessed since July 2012 with over 160 lives lost in attacks and counter-attacks. The antagonizing communities are the Pokomo and the Orma who have a history of fighting over water and pasture. One of the worst attacks happened a month ago in Kipao village where 42 villagers were slaughtered in a single attack.

The latest attack comes amidst a strong paramilitary presence that has been patrolling the area on a presidential directive since September last year. The attack happened notwithstanding Nduru village being just a kilometer from a police post.

Many analysts have pointed out that the violence could be politically motivated and that aggressors could be acting on direct command of some politicians.
Kenya is set to hit the polls this March in a closely watched election that comes after the deadly post-election violence that rocked the country in 2007-2008.