afrol News, 28 April - The Nairobi-based Independent Medico-Legal Unit [IMLU] has accused Kenyan army officers of torturing hundreds of people between March and April.

In a new report, the army officers deployed in Mount Elgon region to contain the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) militia beat their victims, forced them to crawl naked on their stomachs on the ground or across barbed wire while soldiers walked on them.

In some cases, prisoners had been sexually assaulted and humiliated, with soldiers inserting gun barrels into their rectums. Some were forced to pull each other's genital organs and suck each other's breasts. The report also uncovered that prisoners were denied food.

"The entire duration of torture lasted between two hours and six hours during the day and in some cases went on for up to five days," the report said.

The IMLU also accused the government of covering the tortures, which was why journalists were restricted from visiting military's zone of operations in remote ranges.

"The operation discloses a co-ordinated effort and cover-up by all security agents and state departments as well as complacency on the part of senior state officials including President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga."

Human rights organisations, including the Amnesty International has pressured Kenya's coalition government to prosecute those found wanting of fanning or leading the deadly post-electoral violence.

However, Kenya's Defence Minister, Yusuf Haji, cleared the army of carrying out torture. Instead he said he accused the local people of tortuing suspects before handing them over to the army.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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