Four children aged between six and twelve were killed on Sunday following a fatal detonation of what has since been said to be an anti-personnel bomb. A fifth child involved in the same incident succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The explosion occurred 25 kilometers north of Ngong Town, while the five youngsters were out grazing cattle in Ole Maroroi village, Ewaso Kedong.

Police have revealed that the bomb was an unexploded munition from the nearby Ngong Range, used for training by the military and police. This incident is related to similar accidents reported in Samburu, where there have been explosives left behind after military training sessions by the local and military personnel from Britain. News From Africa reported that, “more than 200 accidents have been recorded in the area where the British forces have been carrying out exercises.” Unexploded ordnances, sometimes brightly coloured, are compared to toys that attract children. These unexploded ordnances are “explosive weapons (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation…”- Wikipedia.org. Human Rights activists have indicated that, “one in four casualties resulting from sub-munition that fail to explode on impact are children who often pick up and play with the explosive canisters…” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke of “not only the world’s collective revulsion at these abhorrent weapons, but also the power of collaboration among governments, civil society and the UN to change attitudes and policies on a threat faced by all humankind”, referring to his contribution as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Dublin, entered into force.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p82jNCJNlk Kenya signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Oslo, Norway in December 2008 to express her “commitment to support efforts aimed at limiting the indiscriminate effects to civilians of Cluster Munitions as areas affected are not suitable for economic development and growth.” However, Kenya has not yet ratified the treaty. The Attorney General’s office alleges that competing priorities have stalled the process, and that ratification of the treaty in Kenya requires approval by the cabinet. Nobel peace prize winner Jody Williams called the convention “the most important disarmament and humanitarian convention…”

Capital FM website reported on May 9^th that, Military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri was “non committal when asked if families of the children killed will be compensated by the Department of Defense.” The government should speedily ratify the CCM such that Kenya joins other States Parties who have “resolved to do their utmost in providing assistance to Cluster Munition victims, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support, as well as providing for their social and economic inclusion.”httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlcGHj5sosY&feature=player_embedded#at=25

References:

Tragedy as four boys are killed in bomb blast DAILY NATION May 11th,2011

Military on the Spot over Death of Five Boys News From Africa May 10th,2011

KENYA’S RESPONSE TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY
GENERAL’S REQUEST FOR VIEWS ON INTERRELATION
BETWEEN ARMED VIOLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT Google Docs (as of) May 11th,2011

Kenya Cluster Munition Ban Policy Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor (as of) May 11th,2011

DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE FOR
THE ADOPTION OF A CONVENTION
ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS Google Docs (as of) May 11th,2011