Victims of security operation in Mandela at the Elwak hospital and weapons seized from the warring clans on display. Police said more than 47 rifles and 900 rounds of ammunitions were recovered. PHOTO/FILE
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh said the Government had to intervene given the involvement of foreign militias and death of 21 people.
The House heard that 175 foreign militiamen had been arrested and arraigned in local courts, with some having been sentenced to six months in jail each.
Several weapons and ammunition, as well as communication equipment, had been recovered in the process.
The operation had also led to the arrest of six chiefs who were believed to have organised entry of the militiamen from neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia and supported their activities, he said.
Total failure
“They were instrumental in providing food and shelter to the militia,” he said.
The Government also deployed a team of surveyors to determine the exact boundary of the two districts.
Mr Ojodeh, who issued a ministerial statement sought by ODM-Kenya nominated MP Mohammed Affey, described the Government operation as a success.
But Mr Affey differed, saying the operation was a total failure as the Government had not managed to contain the situation. He questioned why security forces did not stop the entry of militia into the country.
MP Mohamed Affey - The operation was total failure
He claimed Kenyan forces had brutally assaulted locals and raped women.
Two chiefs, he said, were physically assaulted and are admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital while a 16-year-old is admitted at Nairobi Hospital.
He asked the Government to apologise to the locals for the atrocities committed by the security forces
“It must apologise for the excesses of the security forces and find it necessary to set up an inquiry to look into the same,” he said.
Mr Abdi Nuh (Bura, ODM-Kenya) said the Government took over four months to send a team of surveyors, noting that an earlier response would have averted the conflict.
But Mr Ojodeh put up a strong defence for the Government, saying it was in full control. Instead, he accused Mr Affey of snubbing meetings convened by the Government for local leaders to address the conflict.
“There would have been more atrocities had we not moved fast to contain the situation,” he said.
“Mr Affey never attended meetings attended by other Northern Kenya MPs on this issue,” he added.
The assistant minister said the Government was forced to mount security operation in the affected areas from October 25 with the aim of restoring law and order.
Despite the measures, militia believed to be from the Islamic Court Union on Monday attacked Elwak Catholic Mission in the area and abducted two nuns and made away with three vehicles.
Reports by Caroline Wafula and Bernard Namunane