A man has been shot dead in clashes between two Kuria clans along the troubled Kuria East and Trans Mara West districts border over cattle rustling claims.

Kuria East police boss Gladys Ogonda said armed Abanyabasi clan members claimed the Abairege clan had stolen their hundreds of cattle.

The victim was shot dead at Magena village as the clashes spread to Trans Mara.

Police recovered 47 out of the 72 head of cattle that had been allegedly stolen by the Abanyabasi clan from Abairege.Police said tension was still high at Kugitimo village after clashes broke out yesterday. Regular, Anti Stock Theft Unit and administration police officers have been deployed to the area.

Residents claimed some of the raiders were from neighbouring Tanzania and accused chiefs from the two clans of taking sides and failing to inform authorities on the imminent attack.

"The Abairege clan has been attacking Abanyabasi whenever their cattle are stolen and aid outsiders during the raids. Security forces are not helping the situation," said Mzee Moses Rioba, a village elder.

A peace committee chairman Chacha Mangiteni said many residents were keeping illegal arms yet the government had failed to confiscate them.