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All out war against Mungiki sect
The Government has announced a fresh crackdown on the evasive Mungiki sect.
The latest attempt to snuff out the group was announced by Internal Security minister John Michuki who said the police had been instructed to ensure that the outlaws were wiped out.
Mr Michuki said the Government was aware that some politicians were associated with the sect and they, too, would not be spared in the crackdown.
“Our security forces have been mobilised to deal with this sect. The police have been instructed to use the full force of the law to ensure that both the sect and its illegal activities are totally stopped,” Mr Michuki said.
The minister sounded the warning at a news conference in his office also attended by the police commissioner, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali and Nairobi provincial commissioner Francis Sigei.
Mr Michuki said: “The activities of the sect infringe on basic human rights. It’s mode of operation is to instil fear in members of the public by causing unnecessary mayhem, extorting money and committing murder. In some cases, they have appointed themselves the prefects of public morality by prescribing what women should or should not wear.
“The Government has a duty to protect the lives of all citizens. It is a duty that we will perform without fear or favour. It is now time for those who instil fear and terror in Kenyans to have a dose of their own medicine.”
In pursuing the outlaws, the police are targeting hideouts in Dandora, Kawangware, Kayole, Railways matatu terminus, Old Nation Roundabout, Buru Buru, Bahati, OTC, Ngong, Ongata Rongai, Kitengela and Laikipia.
The sect is also believed to have hideouts in Murang’a, Maragwa, Thika and Nyandarua districts.
Besides oathing rituals, the sect has been a menace to the matatu industry and has been blamed for extortion rings that demand money from drivers and touts daily.
The sect came into the spotlight in 2001 after members hacked to death about 22 residents of Kariobangi North in a night of terror, claiming that they were avenging the deaths of their colleagues a few days earlier.
It reared its head again during the 2002 campaigns when members and leaders openly declared that they would support Kanu in the General Election.
Last October, masked officers from the General Service Unit, descended on a house in Kitengela, believed to be the sect’s headquarters, arrested 18 suspects and recovered paraphernalia they said was used in oathing rituals.
Among these were flags with white, yellow, green, red and black colours associated with the sect.
Also recovered were sashes, cleansing oils, sect membership certificates, a seal for the National Youth Alliance Party and copies of its constitution.
A day after the raid, the house owner and a National Youth Alliance Party official addressed a Press conference that was attended by CID officers. The official accused the police of unlawfully occupying private property.
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