Kenya: Outlawed gangs re-emerge in city slums to offer protection

Outlawed gangs have re-emerged in some parts of Nairobi hit by violence occasioned by the disputed presidential poll.

Taliban and Mungiki gangs are active in Kariobangi, Huruma and Mathare and are believed to be responsible for some of the killings in the areas.

On Wednesday, the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) raided Kariobangi and conducted a door-to-door search for gang members.

Five suspects were arrested after the officers found a blood-stained machete in their hideout.

One-hour raid

Kasarani police commander Paul Ruto said they launched the one-hour raid after a man was hacked to death as he walked to work early Wednesday.

Eight people have, since Sunday night, been killed in the areas. They include gang members gunned down by police.
But residents allege the death toll is higher and many of those killed are victims of gang attacks.

The gangs, the Nation learnt, are also enjoying the support of some residents and property owners.

Not long ago they were dreaded for macabre killings.

The Mungiki gang, which went underground after a crackdown on its members, had been linked to controlled extortion rings. Its members beheaded anybody who refused to pay illegal “protection fees”.

Provide security

But after the eruption of post-electoral violence, members of some communities have embraced the outlawed gangs to provide security in their territories.

No physical boundaries have been erected but some sections are no-go zones to members of particular communities.
Landlords have also been bankrolling gang members to ensure their property is not destroyed.

The property owners are also using the gangs to evict tenants who had occupied their houses forcibly at the onset of the electoral chaos.

Read Another Article

Religious fanatic guilty of torturing his sons; Wife also convicted
Geert Wilders: Holland governed by fear of Islam

Related News Articles Topic(s): Mungiki Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Mungiki Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog