New Tension as Banned Sect Unleashes Terror

Tension is still high in Nairobi and other towns following a fresh outbreak of violence pitting members of the outlawed Mungiki sect against the police.

In apparently coordinated attacks on commuter vehicles, marauding gangs of the ultra-traditionalist group caught many Kenyans unawares early on Monday in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret and other towns in central Province.

At least 14 people were killed in the mayhem, about 30 vehicles burnt and other property destroyed.

Sect members, demanding the unconditional release of the leader Maina Njenga who is jailed for a criminal offence, barricaded roads and paralysed transport in parts of the country. Last week, the sect leader’s wife and a driver were found dead in what police suspect to be gangland executions over control of the group. The sect blames the police for the killings.

The mayhem entered its second day Tuesday as suspected Mungiki sect members continued with their running battles with the police.

They killed a watchman in Ngara Estate even as security officers foiled an oath taking ceremony planned by members of the outlawed sect in a city slum, the national broadcaster, KBC reported.

According to Nairobi East DC James Kanyiri, three heads of cattle intended to be slaughtered by the sect were impounded during the operation.

Transport in several city estates was also paralyzed as public service vehicles operators opted out of the road for fear of attacks, forcing commuters to walk to their destinations.

The Mungiki have sworn to continue mass protests until their leader Njenga is released and a commission for truth, justice and reconciliation formed to investigate alleged police killings of sect members.

Njuguna Gitau Njuguna spokesman of the unregistered Kenya National Youth Alliance party (KNYA), which is allied to the sect, said protests would continue until their demands are met and they are allowed to operate as any other registered national political party.

“We will not relent until this government stops the killings they are targeting on innocent youths,” Njuguna said.

An operation mounted Monday by police against members of the sect continued Tuesday with security officers patrolling areas that were most affected by the skirmishes and making several arrests.