Samburu Watch

Kenya: Landmark Ruling on Indigenous Land Rights

SamburuWatch — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:35:01 +0000

(New York, February 4, 2010) – A ruling by the African Commission on Human and People´s Rights condemning the expulsion of the Endorois people from their land in Kenya is a major victory for indigenous peoples across Africa, Human Rights Watch, WITNESS, and the Endorois´ lawyers said today. The Commission ruled on February 4, 2010 that the Endorois’ eviction from their traditional land for tourism development violated their human rights.

Learn more at WITNESS

UPDATE – Friday, January 22

SamburuWatch — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:04:41 +0000

Human rights advocates documented incidents of extreme police brutality near Lerata and Kiltemany in Samburu East this week. On Thursday, Samburu sources reported many counts of violence, including severe beatings, shootings and rape. According to reports, Kenya police continue to burn homes, steal food and confiscate mobile phones to restrict communication throughout the region.

As documented by human rights advocates, many Samburu warriors, also known as Moran, have been scalped by police during the conflict. Human rights workers in the area continue to interview the victims and collect documentation.

Samburu Moran stand by removed scalp following police brutality in Kenya.

Samburu warrior rests after being scalped by Kenya police during a raid

UPDATE – Saturday, January 16

SamburuWatch — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:51:42 +0000

Local reports state that during police operations in the Loruko area near the Serena Lodge, a mother was shot by police while breastfeeding her baby. The infant survived, but the mother did not. Photos and footage to follow.

Reports suggest that police operations will start at dawn in Ngutuk Ongiro, Westgate, and Sasaab on Sunday, January 17th. Volunteers are mobilizing to warn citizens in those areas.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission is currently investigating, taking testimony from witnesses and compiling reports. The Kenya Aid and Relief Effort is also continuing advocacy efforts for human rights in the region.

For more information or press inquiries contact Aimee Corrigan – aimeecorrigan (at) gmail (dot) com

UPDATE – Friday, January 15

SamburuWatch — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:29:20 +0000

Kenya’s Daily Nation reports:

“Residents of Samburu have accused the government of carrying out disarmament selectively. The residents said some informers were falsely accusing some families in Samburu East District of owning firearms that they were reluctant to surrender to the government. Samburu East MP Raphael Letimalo said it was disheartening that security officers had started harassing locals, demanding that they produce illegal weapons in their custody, long before the January 20 deadline set by the government. Mr Letimalo cited Lerata and Kiltamany areas in the constituency as the worse affected, saying 13 people were admitted to Archers Post Health Centre suffering from multiple injuries.”

“This is selective administration of the law. Why should this community be targeted when the disarmament is being done peacefully in the neighbouring constituencies?” asked the MP.

UPDATE – Thursday, January 14

SamburuWatch — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:13:05 +0000

According to local reports, police operations are continuing in Lerata, Kiltamany and Sere-Olipi. Police have built a huge encampment at the Wamba-Marsabit junction near Lerata B-Kirish communities, with an occupation of at least 1000 troops. Police are confiscating all phones as they go through communities in order to prevent reports and local communication.

It has been reported that dozens of people have been admitted to the Archer’s Post health center for their injuries from beatings and stabbings by police. 3 Lerata residents have been hospitalised at the Wamba Mission Hospital due to the severity of their injuries. 2 people are reported dead in Sere-Olipi. Several women report being raped in their homes.

UPDATE – Wednesday, January 13

SamburuWatch — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:58:28 +0000

An anonymous Samburu (Laramat) reports that today the police took action in a town called Kitemen. He states “A lot of violence and people have been beaten. You hear the fright in their voice when they talk about the upcoming police action to their manyatta. They have also ask me again if I cannot do something to get food for them. I send the numbers of KNCHR in case of any incident. They told me that with the last action of the police, they took a lot of cell phones. So I told them to hide the cell phones, because that is their only contact with the outside world.”

3 people have been reported dead in the Kiltamany operation, 3 moran taken by police, many women and innocent people cut with knives and beaten with clubs. 10 more reported injured in Kiltamany. Police are alleged to have been using knives to injure many people in both Lerata and Kiltamany. Every person who states they have nothing to give the police is allegedly beaten or knived.

John Lemarle of Lerata (Archer’s Post business person and trustee of Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy) reports his phone confiscated and that he was knived badly on the leg by police. Dozens of people in Lerata are being treated for knife wounds.

Reporting human rights violations in Kenya

SamburuWatch — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:08:22 +0000

If you are in Kenya and need to report human rights violations or concerns, please contact the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

From Kenya please contact KNCHR by Mobile: 0726-610159, 0724-256448, 0733-780000, or 0736-780000

To Contact by email please visit the KNCHR website to use the online form.

UPDATE – Monday, January 11- POLICE OPERATION HAS BEGUN IN LERATA

SamburuWatch — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:49:23 +0000

ALERT:

Reports from Northern Kenya suggest that police have begun carrying out an unannounced operation. It has been suggested that the operation scheduled for January 20th has begun without notice. Currently, there are multiple reports of violence from the region. Human rights advocates are urging all citizens to spread word to neighboring communities.

Hundreds of Women and Girls flee Samburu on Christmas Eve as Another Police Security Operation is Launched

SamburuWatch — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:33:18 +0000

Hundreds of women and young girls have fled Isiolo and Samburu districts ahead of a police operation because they fear they would be raped. The women are moving to towns outside the operation zone such as Meru, Naro Moru and even Nairobi. Ms Lesingiran, a mother of two, has seen it all before during last year’s operation to recover alleged ’stolen’ livestock. This time around, she says, no one can convince her that it will be any different.

“If looking for cattle that can’t be hidden in huts resulted in beatings and rapes, how can the operation to recover guns which can be hidden in huts be any different? It could even be worse,” lamented Ms Lesingiran, a resident of Archer’s Post.

Apprehension is now building among locals over the manner in which the operation will be executed, with local leaders urging the government to carry out the exercise peacefully. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights have established a crisis centre where victims can file reports of human rights abuses. Human Rights officials stated in a press release in Isiolo that they had urged the government to conduct the operation without torturing civilians and sexually abusing women and girls.

“We support the disarmament exercise if it will bolster peace in the region, but it should not violate human rights,” the statement read.

WARNING: Police to Launch Major Operation in Samburu on Christmas Eve

SamburuWatch — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:03:15 +0000

Kenyan police have announced that an operation against the Samburu will be launched on December 24th, Christmas Eve.

Comments:

Fom DKL: Hi, Am certain that you are aware of so called “Security Operation” which is to begin as from December 24, this weekend. Standard News paper as tried to put light on it in it’s editorial. I wish we have means to respond to it or make as many people as possible aware of it, and report through the cameras you have issued all misconduct that police are going to engage in.

Warm regards. DKL