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Kenya: Entire Villages Deserted As Soldiers Raid Mt Elgon
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
16 March 2008
Posted to the web 16 March 2008
Isaih Lucheli
Nairobi
The combined operation by the army and paramilitary police in Mt Elgon is perhaps the biggest operation since the war against the Shifta of the Northern frontier district in the 1980s.
The soldiers, who have established their base at Kapkoto Primary School, have been pursuing members of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) using air and ground operations.
The operation by the army comes after an earlier one by the General Service Unit (GSU), six months ago, that failed to flush out the gang.
When the military choppers were first spotted in Cheptais and Kopsiro divisions, elated villagers celebrated.
Mr Peter Kirwa says when the choppers and the military trucks arrived, villagers were hopeful.
But the elation was short-lived. Kirwa accuses the military officers of failing to draw the line between the local man and the militia. He says everyone became a target and casualty when the operation got under way.
"The no nonsense soldiers swooped on villages in Cheptais and Kopsiro divisions at dawn as scared residents ran for their dear lives," says Kirwa.
Mr Kiberenge arap Ndiwa, who fled from Chesiro immediately the operation began, said he took off when he saw helicopters bombing hills.
"I am an old man and all my life I had never seen anything like this. I fled from Chebyuk Scheme because of violence and before I settled down, another raid took place," says Ndiwa.
The operation was launched from the Southern end of Mt Elgon District, an area the Government believes is stronghold of SLDF.
All the suspected ringleaders of the gang - whose pictures have been circulated and are wanted for promoting war like activities - come from Cheptais division, where the military has pitched tent.
The gang leaders being sought include Wycliffe Matekwoi and Nathan Wasama, a councillor.
Most of the killings attributed to members of the group have taken place in Kopsiro and Cheptais divisions.
Following the military operation an assistant chief, Kenya National Union of Teacher officials, an education officer and a deputy officer commanding police station (OCS) are among the 189 people arrested.
More than 9,000 people have fled the district since the military operation began.
Market centres and homes are deserted. Men are the worst affected as most of them are being arrested for questioning.
Chebkube, Kang'ang'a and Taigut are now ghost market centres.
More than 1,000 men from Cheptais were rounded up and taken to Kapkoto military camp for vetting.
Mr Bramwel Chesebe, who was among those rounded up and beaten, says both the elderly and the young were indiscriminately arrested.
"Young and elderly men were rounded up in Cheptais and taken to the military camp. We were forced to lie down before being screened," says Chesebe.
He says the screening entailed testing whether one had knowledge in the handling of guns or was an informer of the SLDF.
Since the operation started the military have been using helicopters to bombard Marigo, Chebwek, Kaberwa and Kaptogoi areas.
Women and children coiled in fear as they fled from loud explosions that rocked the slopes of Mt Elgon.
Women complained that life in the district was becoming unbearable.
"What crime have we committed to warrant this kind of attack and harassment? Since the disputed land allocation life has never been the same," said Ms Maria Chemsto.
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Journalist not spared
Several people have been killed during the operation, including a student. The number of people killed in the forest is not known as human rights groups and the media have been denied access to the areas. Military personnel beat up three journalists who attempted to venture in the operation zone.
When contacted the Western PC Mr Abdul Mwasera confirmed the arrests and says the media had been barred from the area.
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