Widows from Mt. Elgon region in Bungoma County whose husbands were killed by the military during their operation while they were fighting Sabaot Land Defense Forces (SLDF) are now demanding the government to move with speed and compensate them.
Many people lost lives during the skirmishes that propelled some to relocate to the areas of Kikwechi, Bumula, and Kabuchai to escape being killed by the military during the fight with SLDF.
The case was heard today at Bungoma high court where 11 widows were present at the court premise to testify.
The widows also decried the KDF for dragging feet on the case adding that it has stalled for one year.
Speaking to the media at Bungoma law courts, Victor Kamau an advocate and deputy director at Kenya National commission on human rights (KNCHR) revealed that the case had been stalled because the Kenya defense forces (KDF) had made an application which was to be made before the case resumed.
“The KDF have been dragging their feet on this case, now that we have resumed this case for the second time I will ensure that the affected widows are compensated for the loss of their beloved husbands,” he said.
Kamau added that 7 widows had testified in the case before the court of law.
He added that they will involve other organizations in the case to ensure that widows are compensated.
Lilian Ndunya, one of the widows whose husband was butchered during the skirmishes told the star noted that they are going through challenges to raise their families adding that they are unable to educate their children.
Ndunya said that their men were killed like cows adding that some of them are unable to trace the whereabouts of their husbands.
“My husband was slaughtered like a hen, he was harassed by unknown men who stormed our home in the evening, I humbly ask the government to compensate us,” she said.
As the country gears towards the general polls, she asked the security department to beef up security in Mt. Elgon to ensure that the same scenario doesn’t repeat.