Fresh ethnic violence claims at least 15 lives in Kenya's Rift Valley region, police said Monday, while political rivals discussed their new deal to share power and tackle root causes of the strife. "A total of 15 people died: six burnt in their houses, six hacked with machetes and three shot dead," a police commander said after the attack that occurred in the Rift Valley's Trans Nzoia area.Police said attackers, armed with machetes and guns pounced on their victims -- who recently returned home from displaced people's camps -- while they slept in a region swept by violence after a disputed December 27 presidential election. "It was horrifying. These people were merciless. They burnt people alive. About 10 houses were razed," said another police officer, who asked not to be named.
The killings prompted a fresh exodus among families that had recently returned to homes near the volatile Cherangani and Mount Elgon area after the ethnic strife was triggered by the election, police said. "This attack is really scaring people. Instead of people re-settling, they have again begun fleeing their homes," said National Security Minister George Saitoti. Meanwhile attackers overnight razed a school in the volatile Molo district, police said.
The government and opposition resumed talks in the capital Nairobi, under a new international mediator, after a weekend break in marathon talks that led to their accord last week to end share power and end violence.