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In Pictures: Conflict in Kenya’s Tana River

Tension between Kenyan agriculturalist and pastoralist communities has led to violence.

Orma pastoralists displaced by recent violence cross the Tana River.
By Roopa Gogineni
Published On 21 Sep 2012

Ethnic tensions have been simmering in Kenya after the September 10 massacre at Kilelengwani – carried out by ethnic Pokomo against the Orma tribe – followed a string of tit-for-tat attacks between the agriculturalist and pastoralist communities.

More than 110 people have been killed since late August in Kenya’s Tana River region, about 420km from the capital Nairobi. Some 6,000 people have been displaced, according to Human Rights Watch.

Tensions regularly flare between the two groups during the dry season, when Orma bring their cattle to graze on Pokomo land.

But the conflicting livelihoods of two communities no longer sufficiently explains the level of violence. The attackers are better organised and display unprecedented levels of brutality, indiscriminately killing women and children.


The charred remains of a calf in the village of Kilelengwani, Kenya. Thirty-eight people died in the massacre carried out by Pokomo militia.
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"Welcome all" in Kiswahili, written on the wall of a destroyed Orma home in the village of Kilelengwani, Kenya. Thirty-eight people died in the massacre carried out by Pokomo militias.
The Pokomo militia burned hundreds of homes and killed thirty eight villagers in less than thirty minutes in the village of Kilelengwani.
Pokomo attackers broke into the women(***)s prayer room of the Masjid al Noor with machetes and spears, killing five women and two children inside.
A Pokomo girl rests in an internally displaced persons camp. Hundreds of Pokomo families have fled their villages fearing retaliatory attacks by Orma.
Abdullah Sanke lost his wife and two children in the Riketa massacre on August 22. He now stays with other Orma survivors in an internally displaced persons camp in Didi Waride.
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Rehema Omar, 27, was speared in the back and cut on the face when militia attacked the village of Kilelengwani. She is being treated at a private hospital in Malindi.
Nine-year-old Jamila Yakub hid with seven other women and children in the smaller prayer room of the Masjid al Noor. Attackers broke into the room, killing everyone but Jamila, whom they cut in the face and arm and left for dead. She now recovers in a Malindi hospital.
Jamila Yakub receiving medical attention.
Martha Karua, an MP and presidential candidate, traveled to Tana River District to attend a peace rally on Friday, September 14.
Hussein Dado, a candidate running for governor of Tana River County, visits displaced Orma in the town of Oda. Dada has widespread support among the region(***)s pastoralist communities.