Is dreaded SLDF militia in Mt Elgon regrouping?

Residents of Mt Elgon suspect the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) militia could be regrouping.

And the incident where eight armed men were spotted in a cave that was previously used by the rag tag army has not been taken lightly by the security apparatus in the area.

While County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed and Mt Elgon MP John Serut have ruled out the possibility of the militia regrouping, Cheptais Deputy County Commissioner Omar Salat last week led security officers in combing the area for the suspects.

Salat confirmed leading the exercise that lasted eleven hours dubbed ‘Operation Zuia Uhalifu’, but noted that no arms were discovered and no armed men were found.

“We received reports from wananchi five days ago and we launched the exercise to ensure no criminal inhabits the forest. The operation will be continuous to ensure Mt Elgon is safe,’’ noted Mr Salat.

He thanked the locals for raising the alarm and urged them to always forward information on any suspicious people or activities to the police.

Residents who claimed to have spotted the armed men at Mlango Nane Cave near Mt Elgon Forest declined to be quoted or named for fear of reprisals.

SLDF, by its commander Wycliffe Matakwei, carried out the orgy of torture and killings in 2008 over land dispute at the Chebyuk Settlement Scheme before President Mwai Kibaki dispatched the military to the area to stop the atrocities.

High alert

Over 2,000 people were killed and 160,000 displaced during the group’s reign of terror.

Even though Matakwei was shot dead by security agents in March 2008 near the Mlango Nane Cave, his ‘deputy’ David Sichei has never been apprehended.

Maalim urged residents not to panic as security teams in the area were on high alert.

“During the weekend, security teams combed the forest and this routine exercise will go on. We take any information seriously and our officers are on ground because we cannot afford to have a repeat of what transpired here some years,’’ said Maalim.

Area OCPD Ezekiel Kiche said the exercise was conducted in Chesokwo, Mlango Nane, Kimwook,Ngomok, Chemakitoi, Kipsigun and Chemung’omet caves within Mt Elgon forest that borders Uganda.

“Our border points and forests have 24-hour security surveillance and any criminal who thinks he will escape the law is wrong. SLDF regrouping are just rumours,’’ Kiche said.

Serut has called for a security meeting at Kapsokwony today (Monday) while Maalim will be meeting the heads of all security agencies in the area in Bungoma on Tuesday.

“I can tell you for sure that SLDF is not regrouping. Any information is therefore meant to bring unnecessary fear to the people,” Serut told The Standard.

“I want you to talk to residents of Mt Elgon tomorrow (Monday) at Kapsokwony and find out for yourself whether this is true,” he added.