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Kenya: Activists Sought By Military Over Torture Claims
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The Nation (Nairobi)
7 April 2008
Posted to the web 7 April 2008
Nation Team
Nairobi
Human rights activists in Bungoma are on the run following reports that the military was looking for them for exposing torture cases in Mount Elgon.
The director of Western Human Rights Watch, Mr Job Bwonya and his staff have fled their Bungoma office.
Talking to the Nation on phone, Mr Bwonya confirmed that he was being hunted by the military for accusing them of torturing Sabaot Land Defence Force suspects.
Mr Bwonya said trouble for him began when he interviewed torture victims and also exposed them in the media.
He said the military had tortured many people to death and disposed of the bodies in the forest.
The rights activist said more than 30 people have been tortured and others shot by the military since the operation began nearly a month ago.
Sources at the military camp revealed that the human rights lobby director was being sought for misleading the public over what is happening in Mt Elgon.
Military personnel want the rights lobby to give evidence and prove that it is behind the torture as shown in the media.
Two weeks ago, the military had arrested Mr Bwonya and a UK-based human rights consultant, Mr Ben Rawlence.
They took them to Chepkube sub-military base where they questioned them for a day, after which they released them.
And Narok North MP William ole Ntimama has taken issue with the government over the operation in Mt Elgon.
Mr Ntimama said the Government had a hidden agenda while carrying out the offensive since the media had been barred from accessing the district.
Speaking at the burial of Eldoret North MP William Ruto's father, Mr Ntimama said the army had turned against citizens in the district and it should cease the operation.
Mr Ntimama spoke as several people, including Musa Olokoit, 30, claimed they were tortured to near-death as the officers tried to force confessions out of them.
Refuted claims
However, deputy chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Karangi has since refuted claims that the officers were using excessive force in the operation.
"We do not have a single record of torture by our soldiers," Lt Gen Karangi said.
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He added: "We have moved to the area to restore law and order and I can assure you that we have managed to do it."
The hunt for SLDF militia shifted to Eldoret as security personnel widened their dragnet for the fleeing fighters.
Western provincial commissioner Abdul Mwasera said 700 suspects had so far been arrested. However, the militia's self-proclaimed commandant, Kirui Komon Matwakei, is still at large along with other high ranking militia officials.
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