The holidays are here and the doom of gangs and terror attack are already threatening the security of hardworking Kenyans that wish to celebrate and enjoy the Christmas season both peacefully an safely.
A reformed Mungiki sect member in Nyeri has been murdered and his body stashed in a sack, one month after he surrendered to police.
John Githinji was reported missing on Sunday and his acid-burnt body recovered on Thursday morning.
Githinji was taken to the Central Regional DCI headquarters in October by Muslims for Human Rights chairman Khelef Khalifa when the government started a fresh crackdown on Mukingi members.
In 2000, he together with one Joseph Keng’ethe were sentenced to six years in prison for robbery with violence.
“He had reformed after leaving prison in 2006 but due to the crackdown on the sect, he presented himself to police and was assured of his protection,” Khalifa said.
His body had wounds all over according to his wife Julia Wanjiku.
“It’s evident that no other Mungiki member will ever surrender to police. In a matter of a fact, the police are putting our lives in danger,” Khalifa said.
The deceased had three kids.
In the town of Kabati in Murang’a County, most residents say getting to the house before 8pm can be a matter of life and death because after 8pm, gangs take over the town.
In low tones, residents speak of the return of the once dreaded Mungiki sect and other criminal gangs terrorizing different towns in Murang’a County, but no one is ready to speak about issues of security in the glare of cameras.
Police are investigating the alleged resurgence of the outlawed Mungiki sect in Murang’a county.
In a tweet, the police said the individuals behind the revival of the criminal outfit – notorious for extortion, murders and violent robberies – are working with other people from several towns.
“In this regard therefore, we wish to inform the public that we have launched investigations into their activities that are aimed at dealing with the said individuals in accordance with the law,” the police said.
The Mungiki sect was banned in 2002 after the group with alleged historic ties to Mau Mau was linked to violent crime.
Its membership mainly comprised snuff-taking dreadlocked youths.
Other than murders and harassing women, Mungiki was infamous for extortion through illegal levies and taxes.
“We therefore call on anyone who may have fallen victim to these extortionist rings to report to the nearest police officer or police station for action,” the police said.
“We finally wish to warn that we shall not condone any form of gangsterism and anyone attempting to revive such proscribed criminal groups will face the full force of the law.”