Katiba Institute, established to promote the understanding and implementation of Kenya’s new constitution, has reported that there has been an increase in human rights violations in the Samburu communities of Laikipia, Kenya.
On Febraury 26,2014 eleven elders were arrested and taken to Ngare Ngiro police station. They were detained for two days before being released. During their detention they were told to pay Kshs 10,000 each to secure their release. They refused. Between the 27th of February and the 14th of March a Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) warden fired at herders as a last warning to leave the territory or be killed; KWS rangers forcefully took and slaughtered three sheep; KWS rangers went around all the manyattas (Samburu settlements) demanding Kshs 3,000 from each boma (livestock enclosure) or they would be arrested. On March 13th, nine elders were arrested, charged on trumped up charges alleged to have contravened a wildlife act, and given bail of Kshs 300,000. On March 17th KWS rangers confiscated a motorbike from an elder and robbed him of Kshs 1,700.
Katiba Institute has assisted with research, preparation of submissions, as well as litigation strategies in support of the Samburu as they pursue an adverse possession claim on their traditional land in an attempt to recover it from the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS). Katiba Institute hopes to bring these new incidents to the attention of the High Court so the human rights violations and abuse of the court process will be stopped. The institute hopes this will lead the AWF, KWS and MOI to respect the court order; KWS to vacate the land in question until the case is settled; and for the organizations to compensate for loss of property, illegal arrests, and detention.
During the last week of February, a meeting organised by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), AWF, President Moi, and KWS and the neighbouring private ranches which include OLPejeta conservancy at a newly build Mutara Ranch Lodge next to the suit land and hatched this new scheme to get the community out of the suitland.
The following are questions rasied by the community, who await answers.
Why should TNC and AWF give the Samburu ancestral land to KWS who never asked for it instead of transferring to community which has been in court of the same land since 2007?
Why should TNC, AWF, Moi, and KWS violate a court order which has granted the community rights to live, graze, and not to harassed or evicted until the case is heard and determined?
Why should TNC, AWF, Moi and KWS continue construction at the suit land before the case is heard and determined?
Why should TNC, AWF, Moi and KWS want to justify of an animal corridor which has never been there since time in memorial, it only came to defeat the community claim? the neighboring ranches have all along been fenced off?
