At least 38 people, including women and children have been killed in violent ethnic clashes between two rival groups in southeastern Kenya, Press TV reports.

The clashes broke out late Sunday between the Pokomo and Orma rival groups in the rural southeastern Tana River district, leaving 16 men, five women, eight children, and nine police officers dead.

"Even the bodies have not been removed from the ground... the situation is getting dangerous, something needs to be done urgently," Kenya Red Cross chief Abbas Gullet said.

At least 167 houses were also burnt in the incident after armed men from the Pokomo tribe have raided a village of Orma tribe in Kilelengwani area, he further added.



According to Coast Provincial Commissioner Samuel Kilele, the attack had been planned in advance, vowing to “investigate everybody in Tana River, including political leaders, local leaders and the suspected raiders”.

Earlier reports in August said that the death toll from brutal ethnic clashes that erupted between two rival groups has climbed to 52.

Authorities say the two communities have clashed before over the use of water resources and land for pasturing.
In 2001, at least 130 people were killed in similar clashes between the two groups.
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Press TV