Nairobi — Police were on Sunday deployed to Nairobi's Kibera slum following a night of fighting between two groups over a piece of land. Five people, including three children, were feared dead in Mashimoni area, where the fighting took place.

However, Kilimani deputy police boss, Mr Fredrick Ochieng, could only confirm three deaths, while area district commissioner Evans Onwonga said only two people had been confirmed dead. The three children are reported to have died when a group of youths set houses on fire in avenging the killing of their colleague.

Police have declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in a bid to stop the clashes as elders and the Provincial Administration try to find an amicable solution to the conflict. Local politicians, the police and the DC traversed the expansive Kibera slums, holding barazas (meetings) to quell the fighting.

The Daily Nation counted five truckloads of police officers patrolling Kibera's Mashimoni and Kichinjio areas, where the fighting initially began. Residents said trouble started when some youths demolished a kiosk built in front of the Mashimoni Seventh Day Adventist Church. Angered by the move, another group retaliated by demolishing the church.

Worshippers

Church worshippers then attacked the youths, resulting in the death of one of them. Several others were injured during the incident. The rival group then re-grouped and burnt houses during which the three children are reported to have died.

"The problem is that a group of people demolished a kiosk after the church complained of obstruction. This angered area residents who then demolished the church. This, in turn, sparked a fight," said a resident who identified himself as Mr John Wanjala. Residents fear that the fighting will erupt once the police officers leave the area.