Stephen Makabila And Allan Kisia
23 March 2008
Nairobi — The odds are now against the dreaded Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF). The militia group has ruled the slopes of the border mountain for the last 18 months and, seemingly, their days are numbered.
With 237 suspected SLDF members charged in court, many more arrested and arms recovered in the operation, which is now enjoying massive support from residents, the militiamen seem to be on the run but their hiding places are fewer.
Last week, 17 SLDF members surrendered to the security personnel. Each of them handed over his AK-47 rifle.
Human rights groups have indicated that the ragtag army has killed about 600 people and displaced more than 40,000 in the last one and a half years.
The ongoing security operation to root out the SLDF started more than two weeks ago and more than 320 suspects have been arrested and three shot dead.
Western PC, Mr Abdul Mwaserah, says 75 suspects were released after interrogation while others were taken to court.
The military has erected roadblocks at various points. They have also sealed off the Kenya-Uganda border.
On Monday, 152 suspects were charged with promoting war-like activities.
The little known Sirisia Law Courts, that has in the past been associated with customary cases, was turned into a mini-barrack when the suspects were brought in four lorries amid tight security.
The law court grounds and the courtroom were cordoned off from 11am when the suspects arrived, until 1.30pm when they left.
Lawyers representing some of the suspects and wananchi were denied entry despite pleas from the Law Society of Kenya Western Kenya branch chairman, Mr Laban Akula Anzia.
The suspects, who pleaded not guilty, appeared before Resident Magistrate, R O Oigara.
The prosecution, led by Inspector George Rachena, said the suspects committed the offence between July 2006 and March 3, 2008.
The prosecution opposed issuing bonds to the suspects since more serious charges were likely to be preferred against them.
The suspects were remanded at the Bungoma GK Prison. Their case will be mentioned in the same court on April 7.
Two days later, a second group of 85 suspected SLDF militiamen was charged with promoting war-like activities.
Some of the militiamen seem to be surrendering after a one-week amnesty by Mt Elgon DC, Mr Mohamed Birik.
On Tuesday, two AK-47 rifles were surrendered to Birik at Cheptonon trading centre. The following day, 17 militiamen surrendered and handed over their AK-47 rifles.
The DC said SLDF members had up to yesterday to surrender. He said the amnesty will not be extended.
He hailed residents for cooperating with security officers, noting that those who give vital information will be rewarded.
The residents had a few days back cornered five suspected SLDF members and handed them over to the police.
But there are still those within the SLDF ranks who feel the security operation cannot achieve much in dismantling them.
A radio interview with one of the alleged leaders on Tuesday threw security operations into a spin.
Security officers conducting the operation were clearly taken aback by the interview Mr John Kanai gave to West FM, which covers Western and North Rift regions.
In the interview, Kanai said the Government should not bombard civilian areas without using professional methods to identify the real militia.
"Hao watu wanatafuta kile hawawezi kuona. Kwa nini wanaumiza raia? (The security officers are looking for something they cannot find. Why are they hurting civilians?)," he said.
Kanai, who has been on the police most-wanted list, also accused the Government of using unconventional methods in their operations in Cheptais and Kopsiro divisions.
He lamented that security officers were committing serious human rights violations in the hunt for the militia.
The self-styled leader called on the Government to halt military operations and allow elders to continue with a peace process initiated early in the year. He said normalcy was returning in the troubled district as a result of the peace initiative.
"People had started coming back to their farms to prepare for the planting season. Residents were finally recognising each other as brothers and sisters," he added.
He said SLDF supported recent sentiments by a section of Rift Valley MPs, who demanded that original inhabitants be given back their land.
The interview sparked off a fresh operation. Some security officers extended the search in villages beyond the district while others combed caves deep in Mt Elgon forest.
The District Criminal Investigations Officer, Mr Seif Mbaruk, appealed to residents to volunteer information on the whereabouts of the SLDF ringleader. He assured them that any information given will be confidential.
"We are out to ensure criminals do not have the luxury of saying whatever they want even after they commit atrocities," he said.
Mbaruk said security officers will flush out SLDF members from their hideouts.
He warned that failure by residents to cooperate would be counterproductive, as criminals will turn against them in future.
Human rights groups that had earlier opposed the operation are now supporting it but want officers do their work professionally.
The Western Kenya Human Rights Watch (WKHRW) and the Mwatikho Torture Survivors Organisation (MTSO) claim military officers are torturing suspects.
The WKHRW Executive Director, Mr Job Bwonya and the MTSO Director, Mr Taiga Wanyanja urged the Government to order that no suspects should be tortured.
"Some 45 people have reported to us that they have been tortured by the soldiers and we have advised them to seek medical treatment," says Wanyanja.
They said the involvement of the army in the operation was unwarranted, as SLDF had not mounted any resistance since the operation kicked-off.
"Human rights officials should be allowed access to the district to see how the operation is being conducted because locking them and the media out raises suspicion," adds Wanyanja.
Area MP, Mr Fred Kapondi, says his people are being harassed yet they had embraced peace even before the start of the operation.
The second phase of the operation targets villages where SLDF militia are suspected to be hiding.
The Government has denied the harassment claims despite victims' testimonies.
"The soldiers found me in my house taking tea and beat me up until I lost consciousness," claims Mr David Kimutai, who is nursing injuries at the Cheptais Health Centre.
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