Robbers kill 10 in western Kenya

NAIROBI, May 4 (Reuters) Armed robbers killed 10 people in an attack on a village in Kenya's western region, police said today.

''About nine criminals armed with guns and other crude weapons raided Matisi, robbed and murdered 10 people in cold blood,'' police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told Reuters.

The killings occurred about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the east African country's lush Mount Elgon region where fighting between local communities over land has killed more than 140 people and displaced 60,000 in the past six months.

''The Commissioner of Police has offered a reward of 3,693 dollars, for information leading to the identification of these people,'' Kiraithe said.

Kenya's police are increasingly offering bounties to members of the public in an initiative aimed at encouraging citizens to report criminals living among them.

Kiraithe said the gang had escaped in two cars following the incident yesterday night.

He said a special police unit from the police headquarters in the capital Nairobi had been dispatched to the area to assist local police and detectives in their investigations.

Kiraithe said no arrests had been made so far. He gave no further details.

Police have said robberies were on the wane this year, but Kenyans fear insecurity in the country will escalate ahead of parliamentary elections expected in December.

REUTERS KK HS1520