14 killed during raid by Sudanese tribesmen into northern Kenya

By OBARE OSINDE

KITALE, Kenya, Apr 29, 2005 (AP) — Cattle thieves from Sudan raided a village in northern Kenya, setting off clashes with police that left at least 14 people dead, police said Friday.

Southern Sudanese men from the Toposa tribe on Wednesday attacked Lorenet village, 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the border town of Lokichoggio, killing five Turkana villagers and taking more than 500 cattle, Lodwar police chief Bernard Muli said in a telephone interview.

“My officers followed the raiders and managed to kill nine on the spot, but none of the stolen animals were recovered,” Muli said.

Two children and three Turkana women were injured and were being treated at a hospital, he said.

Lucas Ariong of the Turkana Civil Society Organization said Friday that five Turkana men were still missing after the attack.

On April 14, clashes between Turkana tribesmen and southern Sudanese men from the Dongiro tribe left seven people dead in the village of Koyasa, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Lokichoggio, when the Sudanese tribesmen raided the village and stole 2,600 goats.

Ariong said that Toposa tribesmen have raided Kenyan herds to increase their own numbers of cattle now that the rainy season has brought plentiful grasses for animals to feed on.