British army atrocities probe: Samburu victims parade children born of sexual abuse

Victims of alleged atrocities committed by members of the British Army Training Unit in Samburu County told a Parliamentary committee investigating the crimes that they have been left with permanent scars emanating from sexual abuse including rape.

The victims, mostly women who had children who were born as a result of the sexual ordeals, said they continue to suffer neglect and trauma, and demand a speedy investigation for justice to prevail.

28-year-old Jenerica Namoru is with her child who she bore 5 years ago. She is among the victims of alleged sexual abuse from British soldiers.

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 stated: “Hapo mwanzo akiwa British Army Training Unit in Samburu County tulikuwa tunazungumza..lakini training ilipoisha alitoweka, na mimi nikaamua kesi iende mbele.”

Following the incident, subsequent attempts by Jenerica to seek help from the British Army Training Unit bore no fruit.

“Ukienda BATUK, hata huruhusiwi kuingia ndani...wanakuambia kwamba officer in charge sasa ni kutoka Scotland, ambaye haskii kingereza,” she added.

A 17-year-old girl is another victim of alleged sexual abuse; having been abandoned at a tender age, she doesn’t know her real parents and was brought up 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 narrated to the committee.

The Parliamentary committee investigating the alleged atrocities promised victims that they will pursue the alleged perpetrators to ensure justice is done to the mothers and their abandoned children.

MP Nelson Koech, Chair of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, said: “We are going to trace all the perpetrators, collect DNA and compel BATUK to compensate.”