Stop Police Brutality Against Samburu People

Rt. Hon. Mwai Kibaki, President
Republic of Kenya
Harambee House, Harambee Avenue
PO Box 30510
Nairobi, KENYA
president@statehousekenya.go.ke
FAX +254-20-2210150

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister
Republic of Kenya
Treasury Building, 14th Floor
Harambee Ave
Box 74434-00200
Nairobi, KENYA
ps@primeminister.go.ke
FAX +254-20-2211205

Cc: Michael E. Ranneberger, Ambassador
United States Embassy
United Nations Avenue
PO Box 606 Village Market
Nairobi 00621, KENYA
Email: howardjp@state.gov
FAX: 254-20-363-3410


Your Excellencies,

As a human rights advocate, I am very alarmed by reports of a series of brutal police attacks on entire Samburu villages during 2009 and early 2010. Although police forces were sent to northern Kenya to quell violence and resolve conflict and insecurity there, in fact the police actions have increased the violence, intensified the conflict and terrorized thousands of innocent Samburu women, children, and men. Police officers have flaunted Kenyan law with impunity and violated international accords.

I urge you to immediately withdraw police forces and initiate a community-based process of universal and impartial disarmament under the direction of community elders, chiefs, district peace committees, and human rights organizations. Please work with the communities and with human rights organizations to develop collaborative processes to curtail cattle raiding and resolve disputes about cattle ownership among pastoralist tribes.

To develop a culture of accountability and end the era of police impunity, I urge you to investigate and prosecute police officials for committing human rights violations against the Samburu people.

As your government formulates plans for bringing much needed services and infrastructure to northern Kenya, please keep in mind that the pastoralist tribes have the right to self-determination and to participate in decisions about development and land use in their region.

I fervently hope that your government will distinguish itself by breaking away from past abuses of police power and repression of ethnic minorities.

Respectfully,