Two Samburu elders who were beaten and arrested during a week of police violence against the Samburu people in Laikipia, Kenya, have been released. Police also released the Samburu people’s cows, goats, and sheep that survived last week’s police round-up and impoundment. Samburu people report, however, that many of their animals were lost in the bush during the chaotic police round-up or possibly attacked by wild animals. Police were also seen roasting and eating some of the livestock. The community is demanding investigations into last week’s police killing of Playa Lelekina and the torture of Mzee Lenchodor and Sadiki Lekitacharan; arrest of the police responsible for these abuses; compensation for all unreturned livestock; and withdrawal of the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers from the Elan Downs property, pending a court decision on the Samburu people’s claim to this land.
