Naema Celestine | Wanjala Derrick |
Victims of alleged atrocities committed by personnel of the British Army Training Unit in Samburu County informed a Parliamentary committee looking into the crimes that they have lifelong scars from sexual assault, including rape.
The victims, largely women who had children as a consequence of the sexual abuse, claim they are still neglected and traumatized, and they demand a prompt inquiry so that justice may be served.
Jenerica Namoru, 28, is with her child, who she gave birth to five years ago. She is one of the victims of alleged sexual assault by British servicemen.
Her father, Joseph Lelikumani, told the committee, “Mimi ni baba yake msichana, alikuwa anafanya kazi katika kambi ya BATUK akapachikwa mimba, na yule mzungu akapotelea.”
Jenerica said: “Hapo mwanzo akiwa British Army Training Unit in Samburu County tulikuwa tunazungumza..lakini training ilipoisha alitoweka, na mimi nikaamua kesi iende mbele.”
Following the event, Jenerica’s future attempts to seek assistance from the British Army Training Unit were unsuccessful.
“Ukienda BATUK, hata huruhusiwi kuingia ndani…wanakuambia kwamba officer in charge sasa ni kutoka Scotland, ambaye haskii kingereza,” she said.
A 17-year-old girl is another alleged sexual abuse victim; she was abandoned at a young age, has no idea who her true parents are, and was raised by the community.
“Shida kubwa ni discrimination; kwa sababu hata wengine wanakukejeli kwamba mimi ni mzungu na kwamba nafaa kuwa na wazazi wako na pesa mingi. “Niliogopa hata kuenda shule,” she said to the committee.
The Parliamentary committee examining the alleged crimes has told victims that it would pursue the suspected culprits to ensure justice is served for the moms and their abandoned children.
MP Nelson Koech, Chair of the Defense and Foreign Relations Committee, stated, “We are going to trace all the perpetrators, collect DNA, and compel BATUK to compensate.”
