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10.10.2006
Press Release
Ogiek
Clashes with Kipsigis gets to the Fourth Day.
The
ongoing clashes that erupted on Saturday night between the Ogiek
and the Kipsigis (Kalenjin) has entered into the Fourth day in
Tiritagoi, Sigotik and Sigaon of Nessuit settlement scheme of
Njoro Division in Nakuru district, Rift valley province.
More than
thirty two houses of the Ogiek community have been torched/burns,
while two Ogiek have been killed. One of the dead Ogiek was
alleged to have been shot by a Kipsigis Police Officer while the
second was injured in the battles hence died later on the way to
the Njoro hospital. Twelve injured and property worth thousands of
shillings destroyed. The number of casualties from the Kipsigis is
unknown so to the number of Houses torched. Close to 100 Kipsigis
were arrested yesterday and three Ogiek arrested today. A source
claims that they will be arraigned in Nakuru Court tomorrow.
Three
primary schools were closed down immediately as the clashes (Conflict)
escalates towards Teret and Nessuit centre.
Causes
of the ongoing clashes:
- On
evening of Saturday 7th, an Ogiek Pastor named Roma
Mbarwo seven sheep were stolen by the Kipsigis tribe. This has
been the usual scenario as nobody is always arrested and or no
action is taken by the provincials’ administration.
- The
land has been under a court order by the High Court of Nairobi
obtained by the Ogiek members in challenging the settlement as
they were left out and land given to non- Ogiek.
- Despite
the court orders, the provincial administration and the
ministry of lands issue the title deeds to the non Ogiek which
was court contempt.
Urgent
appeal/demand:
- We
do the Ogiek Leaders do call upon the government to immediate
deploy neural police officers so as to rescue the Ogiek from
the jaws of this Kipsigis who migrated from Transmara during
the former Moi regime. The few at the scene are majority from
the Kipsigis. They (Kipsigis police officers) should be
transferred and the nonpartisan be deployed.
- The
Ogiek members have been rendered homeless hence deserved to be
assisted with medicines, clothing and food.
- All
land disputes and forest encroachment be determined and
settled immediately.
- All
the staffs of Nakuru ministry of Lands they be suspended as
they played the role of issuance of title to non Ogiek and
assumed the court order.
- Urgent
government interventions to protect the minority Ogiek from
the looming genocide as their demographic number outdo the
Ogiek by a bigger margin, they have political leaders, they
are economically stable, while the Ogiek are without political
leaders, and living in abject poverty.
- The
KNCHR and the Civil societies are welcome for reconciliation
Sincerely
Mr.
Mpoiko Kobei Executive-Chairman – OPDP
Member
of United Nation Indigenous people advisory committee (UNIPACK),
Vice-Chairman
Hunter-Gatherers Forum (HUGAFO)
Mr.
Kiplagat Cheruyot
Senior
Program Officer –OPDP
&
a Member of Ogiek People National Assembly.
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11.10.2006
PRESS RELEASE
The Ogiek Community condemns the land clashes in Neisuit area of Nakuru district in which houses were torched, animals stolen and property of unknown amount of money destroyed.
The clashes said to be between Ogieks and Kipsigis is unfortunate, coming immediately after similar ones in Molo, Kuresoi and Laikipia.
We would like to state that:
- The Government has failed in its primary duty to protect lives and property which has seen aggrieved people/ communities take law in their
hands.
- The absence of law and order in most parts of the country is a recipe for a wider conflict as the country approaches next general
election.
- The Government has taken sides in the conflicts like in Laikipia. It has also gone ahead and resettle a community that was affected in 1990/92 tribal clashes, yet most Kenyans were left landless in the state sponsored
violence.
- The Government should give Ogieks and other minority tribes legal recognition over their ancestral land to end invasions by other
communities.
- The Government should move swiftly and recover animals that were stolen in the Neisuit clashes. It should restore peace and order and to bring to book the perpetrators of the violence which has also displaced people.
- The Government should exercise utmost care and restraint in dealing with land issues because if it continues to take sides, it can force Kenyans to take arms and defend themselves, leading to
conflagration.
- The President should sack his internal Internal Security minister John Michuki because he is being seen as not impartial in the ongoing conflicts in the county, as a measure to redeem his Government image.
- The Government should acknowledge that it is part of the problem in Mau East because it has failed to settle Ogieks in their ancestral lands which has given room for encroachment by other
communities.
- Today's skirmishes are about land and resources and we wish to state that Ogieks have fundamental rights to own land in
Kenya.
- The on going insecurity in the country is organized. The perpetrators are known and hooligans funded to commit
mayhem.
- It can generally be assumed that it is part of the agenda by certain people in powerful positions to make the country ungovernable in fear that the current Government will not make it in the next general
election.
- It is to ensure that some group of people, or communities viewed to be sympathetic to opposition flee their homes so that they do not vote in the election-Ethnic
cleansing.
- We are asking the Ogiek to remain calm and if need be defend themselves, their property and land from
aggressors.
SAINA SENA ADVOCATE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OGIEK RURAL INTEGRAL PROJECT
Mr.
Kiplagat Cheruyot
Senior Program Officer
Ogiek Peoples Development
Program
& a Member of Ogiek People
National Assembly.
CC:
- All media houses
- Kenya Human Rights Commission
- Attorney General
- Commissioner of Police
- Internal Security Minister
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