Another Silent Genocide: Human Rights Violations in Samburu Kenya

On Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 Somali bandits raided the Samburu tribe near Lerata, Kenya, a small community between Archer's Post and Wamba located in the Samburu District, northern Kenya, once known as the Northern Frontier District. Bandits took hundreds of cattle, shot two men, stole a local conservancy vehicle, and kidnapped two Samburu children.

The response of the Kenyan government has shocked Samburu victims and their advocates.

“Rather than locating our children and recovering our cattle, the Kenyan government sent a special police force into Lerata and surrounding communities, flew over the village, and proceeded to shoot innocent people in the community from helicopters,” a witness stated. “Police were firing into the school yard, at women walking their goats, people getting water at the well, and at the small rural medical clinic,” reported medical personnel at the local medical dispensary.

“At first, the community thought the police were here to help us find our lost children and ran out to greet them,” stated Sammy Lepurdati. “When they initially started shooting, everyone tried to convince them they were making a mistake, but instead the police kept circling the bomas, firing deliberately at innocent people.”

“It was a nightmare,” he stated. “People were screaming, running in every direction. Those who survived fled to the bush and nearby mountains.”

Police also beat over 30 women, children, and the elderly with clubs, according to one witness, who asked to remain anonymous. “My mother was walking to the bore hole with my 4 year-old sister and 10-month old brother, who was wrapped on her back, to water our goats and calves,” the 15 year-old reported. “She turned around to take my sister’s hand when police approached her, told her to give over the calves and goats to him and, when she pleaded with him that it was our only source of food, he began beating her with his club.”

“When the baby started crying, he pushed my mother to the ground and began hitting her over and over again on her back until the baby stopped crying. My sister screamed and then he began beating her, too.” All three sustained life-threatening injuries according to the rural dispensary’s nurse practitioner, Edward Letalama.

“The police then proceeded to confiscate all the village’s remaining cattle, including those owned by the local orphanage, and transported them to Archer’s Post, 28 km away,” according to Titus Letaapo Saayio, Director of the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, one of the most successful community conservation programs in Kenya, which is run by Samburu communities under the direction of Northern Rangeland Trust.

“We are shocked and feel betrayed that the police and Kenyan government are not even trying to bring these shiftas [bandits] to justice and have, instead, turned against their own people.”

Survivors fled to the mountains or followed their cattle to Archer’s Post and then to Isiolo, 40 km away in another district. “By taking the cattle out of the district, we realized they had no intention of returning these cattle or to carry out the policies of a democratic society,” reported Member of Parliament Raphael Letimelo, Samburu District, “Instead, the special police force brought them across district lines where local District officers and representatives would be powerless.”

Hundreds of the cattle confiscated had been donated by an international humanitarian aid NGO to the orphanage to replace cattle to local orphans and families recovering from the 2006 drought in which 85% of their livestock perished. Independently audited records and photographs of this livestock are kept, proving ownership of this stock.

“Without milk from their cattle, the community members will die.” Dan Letoiya, Director of West Gate Wildlife Conservancy stated. “We are experiencing another severe drought and this is their only source of protein and liquid. The milk from their livestock make up 90% of their dietary intake.”

The Samburu pastoralists have herded cattle in this region for centuries and are some of the most marginalized people in all of East Africa, with no political voice, advocacy, or means to defend themselves. This situation, combined with the maize shortage caused by a Kenyan governmental corruption scheme, means thousands could face starvation.

In fact, Rosemary Lekali from Save the Children urged public government officials to intervene. “The Samburu are certain to perish from dehydration and starvation in the absence of their livestock. Cattle not only represent their most important food reserve, but it is also their primary livelihood and currency,” she said.

“When a parent wishes to send a child to school, the bursary or tuition is paid with the sale of cattle. When a family member has to be hospitalized, a cow is sold. These livestock provide cultural and traditional ceremonial purposes as well, which Kenya should embrace and preserve as part of its cultural heritage.”

On Feb 28, thousands of cattle, including those belonging to the local orphanage and humanitarian aid organization, were simply handed over to the Borana and Somali people. Police claim they 'recovered' these cattle as those stolen in the initial raid by bandits, but records show otherwise. Documents prove that the confiscated cattle belong, in fact, to local familes and the orphanage, and that those who were beaten, killed and shot at were citizens innocent of any wrongdoing.

“It is shocking that the Kenyan government could support the Somali people who have consistently terrorized both sides of the border as well as their coastline.” said Peter Leshakwet, Director of the Kalama Wildlife Conservancy."One wonders about the possibility of covert affiliations with terrorism or other black market trades."

Hundreds more special police forces are being sent to Samburu this week with intentions to round up thousands more head of cattle. On March 2, 2009, another 2000 head of cattle were given to the Somali, as hundreds of local citizens witnessed the transaction. One respected elder of the community, Lelaekai Lekurinai, in his late 70’s, was gunned down by police in front of those witnesses in the Isiolo city limits as he begged the police to release his cattle.

To date, estimated value of cattle confiscated and released to Somali bandits is in excess of 5 million USD. This activity is not localized, but has now spread district-wide. In addition, all local conservancies in the Samburu District have been immobilized and disabled by the police.

“The police dismantled all radio communication devices and security equipment for our anti-poaching units,” stated Tom Lesarge, Director of Community Relations and Security at the Northern Rangelands Trust, who has been working on mitigating inter-tribal conflict, land-use disputes, and increasing security in the area. He reported that five Northern Rangeland Trust conservancies were essentially terminated, including the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy, Sera Conservation Trust, Meibae Conservancy, and Westgate Wildlife Conservation Areas.

“This could have devastating impacts on the rare and endangered species found in this area, and essentially overturn everything we’ve accomplished thus far to protect wildlife and bring security to this region,” he stated.

The situation is worsening with each passing day. “There have been reports and threats of possible mass executions and removal from of indigenous people from their traditional homelands throughout the Samburu District in the next few weeks,” stated Letimelo, “Many of us feel as if the police are treating our district as a foreign country they are invading, not as their own northern district and citizens, which they are assigned to protect.”

Ironically, on Wednesday top UN investigator Philip Alston issued one of the UN's strongest indictments against Kenyan security forces, charging that police are carrying out heinous acts against innocent citizens with complete exemption from punishment. He noted the brutal series of hundreds of executions carried out by special police forces across the country in recent months, all conducted abruptly without due process. He stated, "Kenyan police are a law unto themselves. They kill often, with impunity."

Please contact or contact the following individuals for statements, photos, and/or video footage:

Ironically, this UN statement was released just before this incident occurred: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/25/un-kenya-executions

Raphael Letimilo,

Member of Parliament Samburu District

011.254.722.972.996

Tom Lesarge, Director

Northern Rangelands Trust

011.254.721.641.990

[email][email protected]

Titus Letaapo Saayio, Director

Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy

011.254.723.222.664

[email][email protected]

Dan Letoiya, Director

West Gate Wildlife Conservancy

011.254.721.797.587

[email][email protected]

Peter Leshakwet, Director

Kalama Wildlife Conservancy

[email][email protected]

David Leleikai

Lieutent, Kenya Army

011.254.724.345.300

Tina Ramme

Wildlife Biologist

President, Lion Conservation Fund

[email][email protected]

906.367.5466

Craig Halbmaier,

Vice Consul and Minister of Security, IV Chief,

US Embassy Nairobi

Cell: 254-(0)734-000-8020. [email][email protected]