Kenya Gives Dreaded Militia Nine-day Ultimatum to Surrender

Kenyan military authorities on Saturday gave a nine-day ultimatum to the dreaded militia called the Saboat Land Defence Force (SLDF) in Mt. Elgon along Kenya-Uganda border to surrender or face a “merciless crackdown”.

In a statement issued to the press in Nairobi from the police head quarters, said that the government was keen to succeed with the two-week military operation in Mt Elgon region.

The SLDF have been waging a war on residents in the area, in a dispute over irregular land distribution.

SLDF has been credited with the deaths of close to 500 innocent civilians, who were either shot, speared, burnt or hacked with machetes.

Since the SLDF took up arms in mid-2006 in defense of an alleged illegal capture of land from the local Soy community, more than 60,000 people have been displaced.

Earlier this week, about 150 suspected SLDF militia were arrested and charged in court for promoting war-like activities.

The Police have so far recovered at least 35 AK-47 rifles, and 84 rounds of ammunition in the major security operation to flush out the SLDF in Mt Elgon and restore peace and stability in the area.

Source African Press Agency

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