Victims of army brutality receive apology

By Boniface Ongeri

The Kenya Defence Forces has issued an apology to the victims of military brutality in Wajir.

High-ranking military officers from the defence headquarters led by Brigadier John Wainana and military spokesman Bogita Ongeri promised similar incidents wouldn’t happen.

At least 15 people were allegedly beaten up and severely injured after a landmine hit a military convoy injuring nine officers along Wajir-Mandera road last December.

After the December 11 incident the officers moved door-to-door in the nearby settlement of Wagberi rounding up villagers and allegedly beat them up, demanding they produce the Al Shabaab suspect who planted the landmine.

The officers interviewed documented victims on Tuesday in the Wajir East DC Kennedy Nyaiyo’s office for two days and thereafter issued an apology.

"Ours was to strengthen the relationship between the military and the public. We need the public support especially now that KDF is fighting Al Shabaab militants in Somalia," said Ongeri.