Kenyan security forces face US funding ban

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Kenyan soldiers march at a past military parade in Nairobi/XINHUA

NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 5 – The US Senate has banned any funding or training to units of the Kenyan military and police found to have been involved in human rights abuses in Mount Elgon in March 2008.

The Senate has also directed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to also consider similar bans for other units of security forces in Kenya which have violated human rights in operations carried out in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera between November 2011 and January 2012; and in Dadaab in December 2011.

The directive is contained in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill 2013 that has been seen by Capital FM News.

“The Committee directs the Secretary of State to take steps to ensure that no United States training, equipment, or other assistance is provided to any Kenyan military or police personnel who have been credibly alleged to have violated human rights in Kenya,” the Committee on Appropriations wrote in the report dated May 24, 2012.

The report tabled in the US Senate contains appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013.

The Secretary of State is now required to submit a report to the Committee on steps taken by the Government of Kenya to conduct thorough, credible investigations of such violations and the identification of military units responsible.

The Kenyan military and some units of the police force were accused of having violated rights of innocent Kenyans during an operation to flush out members of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) in Mt Elgon in 2008, resulting in the killings of an estimated 750 people and disappearance of hundreds more.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimates that up to 300 people or more are still missing to date.

In March 13, 2012, HRW wrote to Kenya’s Defence Minister Yusuf Haji seeking answers on letters it had written to the ministry previously over violations meted on innocent people in Mt Elgon and latest ones in Northern Kenya during the ongoing ‘Operation Linda Nchi.’

“I would also like to request further information pursuant to our letter of November 18. That letter raised concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by Kenyan armed forces during three incidents connected to Operation Linda Nchi,” HRW said in its letter dated March 13 addressed to Haji.

The letter signed by Leslie Lefkow, HRW’s Deputy Director of Africa Division also states that it is in the process of documenting abuses by both the military and Al Shabaab members and their sympathisers both at the Northern part of Kenya and inside Somalia.

It also has annexes of some of the documentations so far but to date, the Ministry of Defence has not replied to HRW’s letter.

HRW has however, welcomed the latest development by the US Senate banning any further funding or support to units in the Kenya military and police found to have participated in the abuses on citizens.

“The US Senate decision to ban funding and training to military and police personnel that took part in recent abuses in North Eastern Province is a step forward for accountability in Kenya,” said Neela Ghoshal, East Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“It will put pressure on the Kenyan military and police to uphold their promises to investigate abuses. For the women we interviewed who were raped or assaulted by police in Dadaab in December; for the elderly men forced to roll in the road in Wajir while being beaten by the KDF, for the children who were beaten by soldiers in Garissa and Mandera, this may provide a glimmer of hope,” she added.

Military Spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir when reached for comment said, “We were not given a chance to respond to the Human Rights Watch report. The whole thing was written and documented without us being given a chance.”

“And as for the US senate report, we will issue a comprehensive response once we study it.”

Earlier this year, the Department of Defence formed a board of inquiry into abuses reported in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera but little has been heard of its outcome, if any.

BERNARD MOMANYI

BERNARD MOMANYI

Bernard is the News Editor at Capital FM. He commands over a decade of experience in news gathering having worked in both print and electronic media. He holds a BSc degree in Information Sciences from Moi University where he is currently enrolled for a Masters programme.

  • Njeripk

    Human rights organisations are keen to put Kenya’s security at jeopardy on frivolous claims by sympathisers of terrorists or as a result of instigation by civil society organisations keen to receive funding for non existent mandates. The sooner we are less beholden to western funding and fiats from international human rights organisations the better for Kenya’s security, peace and enjoyment of citizenry. What next should we expect from these busybodies that take to heart tales of woe woven designed to open purse strings of western funders? Shall we be required to adopt wholesale western values that are at odds with the African way of life. We shall resist any attempts to this end. 

  • Goerge G.

    Strange people these US departments.  The civilians in the areas affected were happy with the operations but these human rights groups keep telling lies to remain relevant the get funds.  The situation before the military operations were dire and could not be tolerated.  How about the reports from Iraq and Afghanistan about western forces. 

  • Mwangijurist

    useless venture by bitter an jittery partner…. please re direct your negative energy to AFGHANISTAN an IRAQ… WE have CHINA an no amount of useless an hopeless threats will suffice…

  • Agachuhin

    How it would be good for Kenya to pursue its own ideas and agenda in the Horn of Africa without having to worry about the USA or other organisations that have never managed a country, let alone a department.  In times of fanatics, the rights of these creatures who are seeking to annihilate those who believe or hold different opinions, should be suspended indefinitely.  When you can not reason with Al-Shabaab and the likes, then do the obvious. To do so and depend on the USA, who definitely ‘won’ the war in Black Hawk Down, then it is pathetic.  Try telling the victims of terror that their rights are not at stake when you respect the rights of the fanatics.  Convince my relatives that the rights of 1998 Nairobi bombing should think of the rights of the organisers of that bombing and see what happens. You have Al-Shabaab and the like minded creatures, disused mineshaft would be there better place.  That is where rights are absolute.    

  • luvmeluvu

    The USA has realized that it is becoming irrelevant in Kenyan perspective.  Kibaki may have his own short-comings but i appreciate that he by “looking to the East” he has released us from the dirty tricks of the US. Why should we worry about a 1.26 billion funding when our budget is in the tune of trillions? Despite the arm-twisting, we wont give you army bases and China will continue building our roads. Go to Afghanistan instead.

  • Pmusili

    The US is now becoming irrelevant not only to Kenya but also with the rest of Africa. The Strong economic ties with the Eastern giants where the power is shifting leaves US in the cold. They would rather concentrate with their economic problems, Afghanistan, Iran , Syria etc.

  • Boiyot

    Oh dear! The kicks of a dying horse… 
    I wish we were in a situation where we could just refund these guys their money and say goodbye…

  • Hrnmaina

    We all know and understand that the USA is very broke. They should stop looking for funny excuses.

  • rober

    its no surprise coz da westerns have been our masters bt not any more…we cant bow to any york coz we wanna get favours 4rm u..credit goes to the old saying,every finish line is the beggining of the new race..thank to China