Following severe drought in Kenya which has led to violence of cattle rustling, 2,500 police officers have been deployed to the country’s western region to hunt down those responsible for the deaths of 10 people, including two politicians.

According to Ceoafrica, some 4,000 people have also been displaced in a region the authorities have declared to be “dangerous and disturbed”, with Kenyan dailies disclosing government actions on the instigators of the violence.

The region has always experienced low-level violence between the Pokot and Tugen ethnic groups over grazing for their cattle.

Analysts say elections due in August are also adding to the tension.

Deputy President William Ruto, who visited the region (Kerio Valley), yesterday said that $970,000 (£780,000) would be set aside to compensate those who had lost livestock in the region during the recent cattle-rustling incidents.