In the wake of the recent political settlement in Kenya following the disputed elections, the government is now trying to deal with the consequences of the insecurity. Numerous people are still refugees, too frightened to return to their homes because of continued threats of violence. Meanwhile, in Mount Elgon District, the army is trying to eliminate a self-proclaimed militia known as the Sabaot Land Defence Force, which has operated a protection racket in the area for some time, and which has flourished during the post-election period.
Kenya’s Sunday Nation reports: “The rag-tag army turned on the community it claimed to fight for and imposed illegal taxes, raided farms and abducted residents and led them captive into the deeply forested mountain never to return… The latest twist came when militiamen joined displaced people – victims of their own violence – in stealing relief food distributed by the Kenya Red Cross Society… So deadly has the conflict been that the government – in a rare move – decided to call in the army in the hope of dealing decisively with the crisis created by the militia.”
One problem is that locals fear the army is not as accurate as would be desired in identifying the troublemakers. As the local MP, Mr Kapondi, has said, “Criminals are always smart. When they heard of this operation, they fled … they will come back and the same people will be victims. It’s the people who are feeling the weight of the military.” First the people become victims of the outlaws, and then they become victims of the law-enforcers.