Violations by Kenyan Security Forces

Throughout 2007, the police, General Service Unit (riot police), and Anti Stock-Theft Unit conducted some operations against the SLDF but they were sporadic and not sustained. They were marred by allegations of human rights abuses, including beatings, burning of houses, and attacks on villages viewed as supporting the SLDF.

The army first became involved in July 2007 although the military presence in Mt. Elgon was not publicly acknowledged by the authorities. A senior government official told Human Rights Watch that operations were low level, because, “we feared politicizing the issue. You know SLDF and [local politicians] were closely related.” Foreign diplomats were briefed along similar lines.

However, once the December 2007 elections were completed, the government apparently felt unconstrained by political considerations and launched Operation Okoa Maisha (Operation Save Lives). The operation is supposedly a police-led joint operation comprising forces from the Kenyan army, General Service Unit (riot police), Administration Police, and regular police. However, officials have not so far been clear or consistent about who is actually in charge of day to day operations on the ground. There were numerous reports of the security forces committing unlawful killings, arbitrary mass detentions, systematic beatings and torture, and the enforced disappearances of dozens of people taken into the custody. As a man who had been beaten while farming in his field, taken to Kapkota military camp,and then released, said, “Are they saving our lives or destroying our lives?”