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Clash Victims Send Plea to State Over Seized Land

The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
June 24, 2003
Posted to the web June 24, 2003

By Nation Correspondent
Nairobi
Victims of the 1990s ethnic violence want their land back.
The victims, who were residents of Enoosupukia, Narok, asked the Government to
help them return to their farms and backed the establishment of a Truth,
Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
They said reconciliation would be difficult if land and compensation for
damaged property were not addressed.
They added that they could identify their land and dismissed claims that the
area was a water catchment zone.
"We had schools, hospitals and even a police station. The catchment area talk
was meant to divert public attention from the real reason of our displacement,"
their spokesman, Mr Stephen Mbugua, said.
The victims were speaking during interdenominational prayers at Maela in Narok,
at the weekend.
The prayers at the Maela Catholic Church were organised by human rights groups
and the Catholic Church.
Hundreds of victims, who sought refuge in the church in 1993, could not hold
back tears as they recalled the killings.
Local leaders, including Naivasha MP Jane Kihara and Mayor Abdi Amisi, said the
clashes were the darkest period in Kenya's history.
Mrs Kihara said the arrest of those behind the clashes, some of whom she
claimed were well known, would be the beginning of the healing process.
Mr Mbugua criticised the task force seeking views on the truth commission for
skipping the area during its visits to the province.
Mayor Amisi said the establishment of the Truth Commission would ensure that
such atrocities do not occur again under the pretext of politics.
The mayor said that the healing process should avoid witch hunting and should
not target particular communities.
He added the victims of clashes have been reduced to beggars after their source
of livelihood was disrupted.

   

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