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Thousands flee
as crack squad sent to end clashes
Story by BERNARD KWALIA and GEORGE OMONSO
Publication Date: 11/26/2007
About 3,000 people have fled their homes after officers from
the crack Rapid Deployment Unit were sent to quell violence in Mt
Elgon.
Security personnel on patrol at
the trouble-hit Mt Elgon area.
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Western provincial
commissioner Abdul Mwasera Sunday said some of those who
were fleeing were part of a group sought by police to
provide information that could lead to the arrest of
criminals behind the clashes.
Mr Mwasera said officers from the unit will remain in the
district until peace was restored.
The unit comprises of Administration Police officers trained
to deal with violence and insecurity. They will be backed by
GSU personnel and regular police already in the area.
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Mr Mwasera also denied claims that
area residents were being harassed by police.
Spared the violence
Many of those fleeing were residents of Kaptama and Kapsokwony,
which had been spared the violence that has afflicted other parts
of the district. Many were fleeing to the neighbouring districts
of Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma and Uasin Gishu.
On Sunday, some of those running away claimed that the new
officers had burnt down houses and beaten innocent people.
A human rights activist, Mr Job Bwonya, said the police were
terrorising people in the area.
“I am surprised that the Government has decided to deploy security
officers in areas that had not been affected by the clashes only
to drive away innocent people,” he said.
And Mr Henry Ndiema, who is contesting the Mt Elgon parliamentary
seat on a Kanu ticket said: “Burning of houses and driving way the
people may not solve the problems affecting the people of Mt Elgon.”
He asked the police to find a more suitable method to solve the
conflict because the curfew imposed on the area had failed.
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