Activists want justice for Mt. Elgon women
Rift Valley women institute for peace is calling for a formation of a special team to investigate atrocities committed by Sabaot Land Defence Force and the military against women in Mt. Elgon 2 years ago. Programme co-ordinator at the centre Mariam Suleiman claims hundreds of women were raped, tortured and even killed while the where-bouts of others is un-known to date. Marium says her organization through NR working group on transitional justice is seeking to help women prepare solid and comprehensive memoranda to be presented to the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission. They are also calling on the two principles President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to publicly apologize to the women of Mt. Elgon for state failure to protect and also compensate them. They said officers actions were uncalled for and are calling for an independent body to probe the allegations raised. This comes after recent reports by a section of the media revealed cruel atrocities committed to the women in Mt. Elgon by the military and the SDLF members during the operation to flush out the group.
End…Carolyne Koech