State in slumber as drums of war sound in Tana

As the week drew to a close, there was indication that tribal conflicts in the volatile Tana River County had re-emerged following the murder of nine people in villages from Tana Delta.

The latest conflict in Tana Delta pits ethnic Giriama against Wardei on one front and ethnic Somali versus ethnic Orma on the other, signalling a return to tribal bloodletting that assails every electoral cycle. Security analysts believe the state is ignoring telltale signals of an imminent blood bath that appears more apparent due to instability in neighbouring Lamu County and the tribal character of ongoing killings.