Cleansing ceremony planned for Sabaot Land Defence Force militia
FILE | NATION
Kenya Red Cross Society’s Dr Muhamud Said treats Mr Joseph Snow, whose ears were chopped off by Sabaot Land Defence Force militiamen at the height of the atrocities, at Elgon View Medical Cottage in Bungoma in 2010. Chopping off ears was a favourite form of punishment by the SLDF.
What you need to know:
- Community elders say recent release of 200 members of the group from custody is causing fear in Mt Elgon region
More than 400 former members of a Mt Elgon militia group are to be cleansed by community elders.
Spiritual leaders will conduct the ceremony of cleansing former Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) militia to restore peace and unity in the mountainous district, according to the chairman of Mt Elgon District council of elders, Mr Ben Chesebe.
Mr Chesebe told journalists at the weekend that those to be cleansed include militia members recently released from prison. Their activities saw hundreds of innocent people losing their lives.
He said the ceremony was meant to diffuse tension in the community following the release of more than 200 SLDF members from prison.
Living in fear
“People who were affected in anyway, including losing their beloved ones, are living in fear when they see the same people that caused problems in the area walking freely,” Mr Chesebe said.
The ceremony has been organised by Teso Peace and Human Rights Development Initiative (Tepehurdi).
Mr Chesebe said plans for the cleansing ceremony were in progress and that spiritual leaders were identifying former SLDF members in Cheptais, Chepkube, Chesikaki and Sasuri locations before moving to Kopsiro.
He said members of the council knew all the former SLDF members who took part in the killing of their kinsmen yet no legal action was taken against them.
The chairman said there was need to preach peace and harmony among the community members to open a new chapter which will enable all clans to live as brothers and sisters.
Mr Chesebe urged the government to give out title deeds to genuine people in Chebyuk Settlement Scheme to avoid future conflict in the area.
Blame political leaders
“We blame our political leaders for being behind the SLDF activities that saw a particular clan turn against its own people after funding them,” Mr Chesebe said.
The executive director of Tepehurdi, Mr Cleophas Okisai, said the Finish government had released Sh3 million to finance the reconciliation of residents of Mt Elgon affected by SLDF activities.
Mr Okisai said different activities would be held in Mt Elgon including training of peace promoters who would move within the area preaching peace among the community.
Meanwhile, striking surveyors in the area have not resumed duty despite the government paying them outstanding allowances two weeks ago.
The 12 surveyors deployed to work at the controversial scheme went on strike late in June after working for only 10 days.
The taskforce chairman, Mr Samwel Ouko, and Upper Western regional commissioner Mohammed Rashid confirmed that the surveyors had not resumed work despite being paid.
