Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:11:40 -0700 [03/20/2009 08:11:40 AM CDT]
From: jbatec@ . . .
Subject: Fw: Another Silent Genocide: Human Rights Violations in Samburu Kenya!
Folks,
Its time for a UN set-up Interim Government to be intituted in Kenya as soon as possible in order to save valuable lives and the deteriorating pathetic situations created by inneffective political leadership, who are possessed by personal selfish ego.
We want transformational leadership style that cannot be provided by the current breed together with those who seek power for selfish motives. Kenya is falling apart to a point divergent invasion is accommodated through Government organized Police system, and this is very worrying.
Fresh election is not possible right now because there is no Electoral Commission body to supervise the election. Secondly, the contesting pockets of the Constitutional Reform has not been instituted into the official policy enactment governing and regulating the judicial and the executive rule order. Thirdly, those personalities who planned, organized, masterminded, funded, committed atrocities, genocide and other Human Rights violations have not been brought to book, according to the Peace Accord Agreement during, before and after December, 2007 are still loose and are still wielding power with authority in Kenya. Forthly, corruption and graft is getting worse by day, a pendamic that does not spare peoples lives from lack of food and because their leaders are selling donated food to the neighbouring countries, while leaving their own people to starve to death. Fifthly, no medical facilities are presently available in government hospitals,
whereby people die for a mere simple ailments. Last but not least, there are no jobs and the social climate has been erroded, engulfed with fear everywhere.
To avoid further casualties and arrest situation while the country’s remnants can be secured
and salvaged for manageable good leadership and governance, the time is now for UN Peacekeeping and the World Leaders step in to help Institute an Interim Government to chart out logistic constitutional modalities for New Order Governance in Kenya. I will not hesitate, if considered to be amongst the team of consultants to provide avenue for fresh leadership in Kenya.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com/
Watch this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,
Please consider broadcasting this breaking news from Kenya :
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
tlsarge@yahoo.com
Titus Letaapo Saayio, Director
Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy
011.254.723.222.664
letaapos@yahoo.com
Dan Letoiya, Director
West Gate Wildlife Conservancy
011.254.721.797.587
danletoiye@yahoo.com
Peter Leshakwet, Director
Kalama Wildlife Conservancy
shakwetp@yahoo.com
David Leleikai
Lieutent, Kenya Army
011.254.724.345.300
Tina Ramme
Wildlife Biologist
President, Lion Conservation Fund
tina@kenyalions.org
906.367.5466
Craig Halbmaier,
Vice Consul and Minister of Security, IV Chief,
US Embassy Nairobi
Cell: 254-(0)734-000-8020. HalbmaierCA@state.gov
Page last updated at 17:32 GMT, Wednesday, 18 March 2009
UN set to double Kenya food aid
The WFP says some farmers have been hit by “almost total crop loss”
The United Nations food agency will give food aid to more than double the number of people it is currently helping in Kenya.
The World Food Programme (WFP) will now feed 3.5 million people hit by drought and high food prices.
Many families are struggling to find food for one meal a day, it said.
The Kenyan government declared a national disaster in January following the failure of the short rains in south-eastern and coastal areas.
BBC correspondents say last year’s political violence has also contributed to food shortages because many displaced people were unable to plant their crops.
Falling remittances from abroad, due to the global financial crisis, have compounded the crisis, the WFP said.
“Kenyans already struggling with drought and high food prices are now being hit by the financial crisis,” said Burkard Oberle, WFP Kenya country director.
‘Crisis levels’
He added that rates of child malnutrition in pastoral and marginal agricultural districts, for instance, were already beginning to reach or surpass crisis levels.
A drought in Kenya in 2006 left many animals deadIn response, the WFP will increase the numbers of people in Kenya receiving general food distributions from 1.2 million people to 2.5 million in the period until February 2010.
It also said it will provide 1.5 million children with school meals as an incentive to keep them in education.
Subsistence farmers in south-eastern and coastal areas have experienced “almost total crop loss”, after the failure of October-December short rains, the WFP said.
High food prices have exacerbated the crisis. Maize prices have increased by up to 130% in parts of the country since last year.
Inflation along with high fuel and fertilizer prices have stopped farmers producing larger harvests.
The new WFP operation in Kenya will cost a total of $474m (£340m) from April 2009 through March 2012.
The agency is appealing to donors for a total of $244m (£175m) dollars to prevent the most vulnerable from going hungry.
The most unpopular, incompetent, lazy and immoral Luoland MP’s now threatens to murder a Journalist over revelation of the CDF scandals?
Posted in March 18th, 2009
by Editor in Nyanza
TWO ODM LEGISLATURES THREATENS JOURNALIST WITH DEATH for Exposing Constituency Development Fund.
By our Reportor
HARDLY before the tears are dry following the execution of two whistle blowers, Oscar Kingara and Paul Oulu of the Oscar Foundation settles, death alarms been sounded again from the power corridors to a Western Kenya based scribe.
Kisumu based freelance journalist Agwanda Saye has been put on notice by two legislators who vowed that the scribe has to trade off his life with his freedom of the press. The MPs, Fred Outa of Nyando and Jakoyo Midiwo of Gem have boldly made their statements that for their tainted political careers to hold, Agwanda must die.
The two legislators who have gone on record as intending to kill the scribe for a story which was published in an online forum, www.majimbokenya have made sure that their sinful intention is well relayed to the reporter through some of his colleagues.
The threats which can not be taken for granted are coming hot on the heals after another scribe based in Nyamira the late Francis Kainda Nyaruri aka Mokua Mong’are was killed and his remains dumped for the wild animals in the thick of Kodera forest in Rachuonyo district a couple of weeks ago.
It has also been evident that the recipient of the fresh threats, Agwanda has been imploring the high police echelons to dig into the mysterious death of his colleague.
On Monday, Agwanda recorded a statement with the Officer Commanding Luanda Police Station Chief Inspector Salim Mwaguya in his office since the threats were made publicly at a function attended by Outa in Emuhaya constituency during a fundsdrive for St Stephenes Church Hattiko which was preside over by the wife of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife Idah Odinga and attended by six MPs klled by their host Wilberforce Otichillo and Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marended.
“I went to talk to Paul Otupa,wife of Nyakach MP Ochieng Daima,nominated MP Millie Odhiambo and Monica Amollo at the main dais, only for the MP to confront me with threats that I must die the same way my late Colleague Nyaruri died, he threatened me for almost ten minutes and I walked away”Agwanda said
Agwanda also said that Gem MP sent his freelance journalist colleague Shem Kosse to him telling him that “he will slit my throat”, he added that he sms Jakoyo wondering why he wanted to kill him to which Jakoyo continued threatening further via sms which he showed his writer.
“I will not take these threats lightly, recently a colleague died after being threatened, I want to see if this country has two sets of laws, one for reckless politicians and another one for ordinary mwanainchi and if they want public relations stories from me then they should employ me?” he added.
The threats against Agwanda’s life caught the attention of a section of MPs from within and without Nyanza province, some of whom advised him to seek police and legal redress into the matter.Justice and Constitutional Minister, Ms Martha Karua said “It is important that you consult your lawyer and report such threats against your life to the police”.While Ndaragua MP John Kioni said that those are reckless statements which should not come from leaders and advised him to seek police and legal protection.
Vision 2030 Minister Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya said that such utterances should not come from leaders while Shinyalu MP Charles Lugano Lilechi adviced hm also to report the matter to the police
Some MPs from the region who were recently angered by the killing of Nyaruri said it was unfortunate that the same people who are supposed to be the torch bearers of transparency, having been elected on the platform of democracy and a free media were now playing the role of wolves in sheep skin.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong when a writer exposes the capitalist schemes employed by a Member of Parliament to rob the efforts of hard working women rice farmers in Nyando”, said a legislator who requested anonymity.
In his story, Agwanda had reported that Outa had fell out of political favor from all his voters in Nyando and is always accorded heavy police escort within the constituency as they claim that he cons them their rice produce through marketing and brokerage.
Sources close to the MP disclosed that the legislator was pained by the revelation which is said to have caught the attention of some foreign donors whose generosity propelled him to power and who has since halted their funding.