In response to the abuse of Samburu people by Kenyan police that was documented by Cultural Survival, a Kenyan organization has initiated trainings for police who are sent to Samburu East district. Michael Tiampati, national coordinator of the Pastoralists Development Network of Kenya, reports that many of the police officers “ are ignorant because of stereotypes…They are transferred to this area and they want to convert pastoralists to suit their imagined ‘civilised’ society. So we told them of the need to respect the people's social-cultural-economic and religious way of life because their job is to ensure security of persons and property but not to convert communities.”
Tiampati reports that his trainings for Administrative and Kenya Police forces have been “very successful.” They were opened by the Samburu East District Commissioner, and they focused on Kenya’s new constitution which contains strong safeguards against abuse of power, as well as regional and international human rights standards on policing and the rights of citizens. Tiampati says the officers were receptive, and they “acknowledged that their actions have not met the required human rights standards.” They indicated, however, that their orders came “from above” – which underscores the need for continued pressure to be applied to the highest government officials (see our action alert to write letters for our campaign).
Tiampati taught the officers that “respect is the foundation of pastoralist culture.” He said the trainees accepted that they have not shown respect to the Samburu communities and that “their approach has not been in tandem with the Samburu culture.” The police proposed joint (community & police) training in the villages to create harmony and develop good working relations as well as enhanced training and remuneration of the Kenya Police Reservists. The Pastoralists Development Network of Kenya is now seeking resources to implement these trainings.
