Tension as rights groups claim land terror gang re-grouping

What you need to know:

  • “People have been brutally killed in Tulienge, Sirisia, Twikut and Cheptias. Action must be taken to end this,” he said.
  • Mr Bwonya claimed that suspected members of Sabaot Land Defence Force and another group, Moorland Forces, have been returned from their hideouts in Uganda since the start of the year.
  • “The government should move with speed and repossess the guns to check the already bad security situation. We do not want to go back to 2008 when more than 1,300 people were killed,” said Mr Wanyanja.

Remnants of the terror gang, Sabaot Land Defence Force, are re-grouping, human rights groups in Bungoma County have claimed.

Western Kenya Human Rights Watch executive director Job Bwonya and Mwatikho Torture Survivors Organisation national co-ordinator Taiga Wanyanja, blamed increased insecurity in Bungoma and Mt Elgon on the re-emergence of the terror gang.

The two also claimed that more than 3,000 guns are still in the hands of civilians in the area and called for forceful disarmament.

“The government should move with speed and repossess the guns to check the already bad security situation. We do not want to go back to 2008 when more than 1,300 people were killed,” said Mr Wanyanja.

“People have been brutally killed in Tulienge, Sirisia, Twikut and Cheptias. Action must be taken to end this,” he said.
“The attacks are targeting traders as gang looks for money to sustain itself.”

MURDERED LAST SUNDAY

A number of violent robberies in Bungoma have been linked to the terror gangs. Two members of the same family were murdered at Twikut Market last Sunday by unknown people.

Mr Bwonya claimed that suspected members of Sabaot Land Defence Force and another group, Moorland Forces, have been returned from their hideouts in Uganda since the start of the year.

Bungoma security is now on high alert. County commissioner, Mr Maalim Mohammed, said some of the settlers of land in the disputed Chebyuk Settlement Scheme are selling it and using the proceeds to purchase firearms to protect themselves.

“Security personnel have managed to recover three AK47 rifles and a Ceska pistol in the area,” Mr Mohammed said.

Mr Mohammed has given a 30-day amnesty for residents to surrender illegal weapons of face action.