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Kenya: 12 Killed As Militia Raid Villages
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George Omonso And Barnabas Bii
Nairobi
Twelve people were killed when militiamen attacked two villages west of Kitale Town on Monday. Among the dead were four children.
Police said five of the victims were burnt alive inside a house, while four others were shot dead during the raid 25km from the town.
The other three had their heads chopped off. Six people were wounded and taken to Kitale District Hospital for treatment.
Four of those who were burnt alive were relatives of a Kenya Police Reservist identified as Mr Fredrick Mbuya, who was not at home at the time of the attack. The officer's brother was killed last year by militiamen in what police described as "a revenge mission".
Witnesses yesterday said the targeted families had fled from Mt Elgon District last year. The district was rocked by sporadic attacks blamed on the Sabaot Land Defence Force, a militia group believed to be operating from Mt Elgon Forest.
The violence in which hundreds of people were killed is believed to have been sparked by a dispute over land distribution at Chebyuk Settlement Scheme.
"I hid behind a huge rock near my house, otherwise I would be dead by now," Mr Thomas Ngeiywa told the Nation in Kitale Town yesterday.
Motive of attack
Trans Nzoia West district CID boss Issa Mohammed confirmed that 12 people had been killed in the 3am raid but his officers were yet to establish the motive of the attack.
Witnesses said the militiamen, who raided Kasarani and Embakasi villages wore police uniforms and were armed with AK-47 rifles.
After the killings, the attackers fled towards Sosiet Forest in Mt Elgon District.
"They appeared to have been targeting some people from the area," Mr Vincent Maswet, a witness said.
By the time the Nation team arrived at the scene, smoke was still billowing from the burnt houses, with unconfirmed reports that the militiamen had also attacked the nearby Sosio Village.
All those killed were members of the Saboat community, who live on the Trans Nzoia/Mt Elgon boundary.
Mr Mohammed said his officers were investigating the revenge claims as reports said that those killed had been referred as "traitors".
The militiamen are reported to have given three conditions to the victims. The first was that parents must allow their sons to join the Sabaot Land Defence Force militia. They also demanded protection money and food from the targeted families. Those who failed to comply were warned that they would be killed. The militiamen also warned that "traitors" would be eliminated.
Speaking at the scene of the attack, local MP Eugene Wamalwa asked the Government to beef up security in the area before resettling the families displaced by post-election violence.
Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi also condemned the killings. Mr Kapondi blamed the deaths on the Sabaot Land Defence Force militia whom he accused of reigning terror on the local community.
Kitale mayor Joshua Werunga and nominated councillor Pius Kauka condemned the killings and also asked the police to beef up security on the Mt Elgon/Trans Nzoia West districts border.
He wondered why a police post that had been built at Teldet was disbanded, saying, it had been assisting in security operations.
"I am calling on Internal Security minister George Saitoti to assist us in rebuilding the police post that was in Teldet to curb insecurity," the mayor said.
Beef up security
Rift Valley provincial police officer Joseph Ashimala, who also visited the area in a police helicopter, said more security officers would be sent to area to crack down on the militia group. He said police posts will be built at Teldet, Kalaha, Kitwamba and Embakasi to beef up security.
Fifty officers from Nairobi were deployed at Kitwamba to keep peace.
Mr Ashimala warned the militiamen to surrender, saying the Government would step up security in the area and flush them out of their hiding.
Trans Nzoia district medical officer of health, Dr Nyongesa Wakwabubi, said three of those admitted to the hospital were out of danger.
Additional reporting by Caroline Rwenji
A map of Kenya
Violence in Kenya has resulted in thirteen deaths. The militia raid is the first attack since a power-sharing agreement was reached last week. The incident is believed to have stemmed from a land dispute. All Africa reports that some of the victims were burned alive, while others were decapitated or shot.

A witness told ''The Nation'', "I hid behind a huge rock near my house, otherwise I would be dead by now." Police have stated that at least six of the thirteen victims were children. It has also been reported that four of the victims were relatives of Fredrick Mbuya, a police reservist.

The attack took place in Embaski Village in the Rift Valley area of Kenya. The Rift Valley, which is almost 500 km from Nairobi, has been the scene of other violent incidents in the last few months.