"All the Men Have Gone": War Crimes in Kenya's Mt. Elgon Conflict

Map of Mt. Elgon, Kenya

Summary

• To the government of Kenya
• To the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF)
• To the governments of the US and UK

Background

• Land Disputes
• Corruption and Politics: The Origins and Objectives of the SLDF
• Command Responsibility within the SLDF
• Other Militia in the Area

Abuses by the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF)

• Scale and Scope of SLDF Atrocities
• Deliberate Killings and Abductions of Civilians
• Mutilation and Inhumane Treatment
• Rape and Sexual Violence
• Destruction of Property, Theft of Land, and Livestock
• Violent Politics and the Role of the SLDF in the 2007 General Election

Violations by Kenyan Security Forces

• Too Much, Too Late
• Unlawful Killings and Enforced Disappearances
• Dumping of Bodies
• Arbitrary Arrest and Detention, and Torture
• Rape and Sexual Violence
• Destruction of Property
• Who is Responsible?

Applicable Law

• International Human Rights Law
• International Humanitarian Law

The Response of the Kenyan Government

• Success?
• Humanitarian Access to Detainees
• Harassment of Human Rights Defenders

The Role of Kenya’s Foreign Partners

Acknowledgments