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Military hands over SLDF militia
leaders to police
Published on 22/07/2008
By Roselyne Obala
The military has finally handed over to the police five top Sabaot
Land Defence Force (SLDF) commanders arrested during a security
operation in Mt Elgon District.
Only militia spokesman John Kanai is still in the hands of the
soldiers.Colonel Stephen Boiywo, who is in charge of the military
operation in Mt Elgon District, said the militia were handed over
to the police so that they could be charged.
Kanai’s younger brother, Samson, who had been on the run, was
arrested a few weeks ago.
Others are the late Wycliffe Matakwei’s deputy, Mr Moses Chemoset,
and Mr Stephen Juma Kirui, the commander who had surrendered to
the military in Kapkota a few weeks after succeeding Matakwei.
Also under arrest is Mr Martin Mateki who was in charge of
uniforms, Mr Robert Cheptot, the fourth in command, and Mr
Geoffrey Makwere, who was in charge of the armoury.
Boiywo yesterday said Kanai was still under interrogation at the
army’s Kapkota base.
"We are not yet through with Kanai. Once we complete the
questioning process, he too will be handed over to the police," he
said.
Western PC Abdul Mwasserah had earlier given accorded to the
commanders.
"The suspects will be required to answer to the serious atrocities
they inflicted on the people of the district," he said.
Mwasserah had further said the Government’s responsibility was to
protect its people and no one would be allowed to walk free after
killing and destroying property.
Kanai, who was arrested in Uganda more than a week ago, was handed
over to the Kenyan authorities alongside five other suspected SLDF
members.
The suspects were handed over to Mt Elgon DC Mohammed Birik at the
Kenya-Uganda border at Lwakhakha last Wednesday.
Matakwei, who was the commander of the SLDF was gunned down by the
military in mid-May alongside three of his bodyguards.
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