Massacre in Turkana
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Fr Steven OchiengNew Ways director Fr Steven Ochieng describes the recent massacre in north western Kenya
Just over two months ago, Fr Steven Ochieng visited England to speak about his parish in Todonyang, northwestern Kenya, which is twinned with Holy Apostles, Pimlico, central London. This week he sent a letter describing an outbreak of inter-tribal violence there, which has left more than 31 people dead and displaced many hundreds.
Fr Steven writes: We were in
the process of preparing an Easter letter of Good News on how the
peace in our area had improved, when news came that an
incident had just occurred; an incident that shattered the dreams
of many and pushed the whole situation here at Todonyang to the
edge of the precipice.
After months of peace and prosperity, despite being in the midst of
the ongoing drought and famine, Todonyang area in the northwestern
Kenya, has been blessed with an abundant fish catch and sorghum
harvest from the delta. The two warring communities had become
friends overnight through the peace initiatives that we had started
last year. The drought and famine in the area had lead the two
communities to look at their shared problems and see the advantage
of living and trading together. Our continuous efforts, arranging
meetings were easing the relationship between the two sides and the
future looked all so promising. We had just finished a four-day
symposium in Todonyang that was attended by a cross section of
elders, women and youth from both communities. Promises were made
and we were certain that we would not return to the "dark ages" of
senseless killings!
It was on the second day of May 2011, while business was going on
as usual, that two Dassanech gunmen lay in wait at the patch of
overgrown reeds by the lake where both the Turkana and Dassanech
were recently fishing side by side. There the gunmen shot at Robert
Petabong and Julius Loudi. While Robert was killed, Julius Loudi
was lucky to survive the attack, albeit with serious gunshot
wounds and loss of blood. The two were the elders of the community
and Robert was also the chairman of our church committee!
Confusion ensued and the now enraged Turkana villagers returned to
the Todonyang Church Compound where they have been living as
displaced people for the last two years, and revenged the killing
of their kinsman by killing four Dassanech in cold blood. Other
Dassanech were rescued while two ran back to their villages at the
Kenya Ethiopian border. This would prove to be a tragic
mistake!
We were very worried and wanted to save the situation from more
casualties. We knew that there were many Turkanas in the Dassanech
villages as they had gone to buy sorghum and other goods. We
knew that if news reached the Dassanech villages, all hell would
break loose. More than 100 Turkanas were in those villages!
As we neared the first Dassanech village, our worst fears were
confirmed! News had reached the village of Sies before us and we
were in shock to see the aftermath of one of the cruellest
atrocities we have ever witnessed in the area; 23 bodies of women,
children and men sprawled all over the plains only one kilometre
from the Kenya Police Post! One of the victims was only a few
months old! This was a massacre. Only one lady, Hellen Ngapoe,
survived, with serious gun wounds and after pretending to be dead
for hours under the scorching sun! One other Turkana was given
safety in a hut of his Dassanech friends as the slaughter was
taking place.
The youth who took part in the killings still had their guns warm
in their hands as we approached the village to find out what had
taken place and to see if any Turkana was alive. Assisted by Fr
Albert Salvans and Fr Joseph Ekalimon, we mobilised forces and went
around other villages of Toltale, Gabite, Koro and rounded up 45
Turkanas that were given safety in these villages by the local
elders, bringing them back to Todonyang Mission. In the
village of Toltale, the elders had prevented the youth from
attacking these innocent people and saved the lives of many!
In total, 31 people lost their lives senselessly that day: 26
Turkanas and five Dassanach, while more than 34 people are reported
missing! In the following days we collected the bodies and what
remained of them and buried them near the mission. Todonyang has
since been on the news, as the Kenya government promises to beef up
security - which has not been forthcoming.
We were forced to evacuate the entire village of about 1,200 people
from Todonyang to Lowarengak, about 24 kilometres to the south. All
the economic activities in the area have been suspended! Most of
the villagers were fishermen and were netting about one tonne of
fish per day!
The mission however continues to operate, since, for the past six
years, we are the only ones who are in a position to mediate
between the two communities. Nevertheless we have had to reduce
some activities, awaiting the government response.
The base of the conflict is survival - expressed in
competition for scarce resources: pasture, water and fish. When the
dry season comes, most of the Turkana in the area have to get
close to the Omo River Delta, increasing competition for resources.
Insecurity now prevents people from carrying out other
activities, such as herding, fishing, trading, learning etc.
It also hinders investment and any kind of development, stealing
people's future as they end up trapped in a spiral of
marginalization and violence from where they do not seem to find
the way out.
We are glad though that the Prime Minister and four other
government ministers, and some security officials have visited the
area and taken a keen interest to address the situation. They said
more security personnel would be deployed. Only when that happens
will we be able to encourage the people to return to their
business. In two years now, more than 100 people have died just in
and around Todonyang.
Please continue with your prayers and support and we hope that we
shall see a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel. And
that the resurrected Christ will give us real peace!
Author: Steven Ochieng
Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011
Source: MCSPA