UPDATE – Friday, January 15

Posted on January 15, 2010 with 2 Comments

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.

Read more at Daily Nation

UN IRIN reports:

“Samburu is indeed a land of contrasts, better described as the land of hills and a valley. The main Kirisia and Mathew ranges are productive, suitable for large-scale wheat and other cereal farming. The valley is much drier. But despite this potential, thousands of people are going hungry and have to rely on WFP and government food aid. Insecurity has also affected livestock trade in the area, according to residents who can barely make it to the market without risking a bandit attack.”

Read more at IRIN