17 April 2008
Nairobi — The Government has ruled out negotiations with the outlawed Mungiki sect even as the gang took its battle to President Kibaki's Othaya backyard in Nyeri.
The sect members overran the sleepy town at midnight on Tuesday, smashing shop windows and threatening to burn buildings. But police dispersed them.
Another group simultaneously raided Kabati town in Murang'a North where they destroyed more business buildings, houses and set one vehicle ablaze.
The group also terrorised other townships in central Province, bringing business to a standstill. Murang'a, Maragua and Kangema were ghost towns with shops remaining closed for the second day after the sect threatened traders to close business or face unspecified consequences.
Meanwhile, the Internal Security minister, Prof George Saitoti, issued a no-nonsense statement in Parliament, saying the Government would not relent in its efforts to stamp out the gang.
"The Government shall not negotiate with organised criminals or any such groups," Saitoti told an agitated House, when he gave a ministerial statement demanded by Mutito MP, Mr Kiema Kilonzo.
The minister said extra forces would be deployed to combat the sect's illegal activities.
"Our security agents are up to the task to ensure that security is maintained," Saitoti said.
But even as Saitoti spoke tough, Mungiki was unrelenting. By the time of going to press, a group of attackers had blocked the Nairobi-Kikuyu road at Ruthimitu, stoning motorists before police were called in to disperse them
In the last three days, Kenyans have expressed frustration over Government seeming inability to contain the insecurity caused by Mungiki.
This was especially so after a telling admission by Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Mr Cyrus Gituai, that the Government had been wrong-footed by Mungiki on Sunday night.
On Tuesday, Gituai told The Standard that Mungiki's early Monday morning's simultaneous raids in several parts of the country caught the security apparatus off-guard.
He disclosed that the gang went on the rampage at 3am, while the security intelligence had prepared for combat at 6am.
Saitoti contradicted his PS, saying the Government security machinery had moved swiftly to contain the raiders and that police had not been caught napping.
Mungiki terror has subjected thousands of Kenyans to untold suffering since Monday. Fear of attack and burning of vehicles have paralysed public transport, especially in Nairobi and parts of Central Province, Nakuru and Eldoret.
On Tuesday night, hundreds of commuters in Nairobi spent many hours in the streets and matatu or bus termini as they waited for transport home. Some walked long distances to their homes, while others were spent the night in the streets.
Two people were injured when a Mungiki gang petrol-bombed a matatu in Nairobi's Pipeline.
Saitoti confirmed that the sect had killed 12 people in several parts of the country since Monday.
Despite Government assurances that it was equal to the task, Mungiki members continued to spread fear and despondency through leaflets circulated in Kayole, Nairobi, and Nyeri among other places.
But the gang's attempt to attack Nyahururu town were thwarted by the police.
In Nairobi, it emerged that the sect had targeted selected PSV vehicles which they set ablaze or forced out of operation through extortion.
The management of the Kenya Bus Service (KBS), whose two buses have been set ablaze in the past two days, complained to the police over selective attacks of its fleet.
KBS Managing Director, Mr Edwin Mukabana, met senior police officers to complain that the company drivers felt threatened.
Other buses like Double M, which have not been targeted, confirmed that they were using police escort in some routes.
Some of the leaflets circulated in Nyeri said Mungiki demanded the immediate release of their leader, Maina Njenga, who himself told The Standard from Naivasha Maximum Prison through an aide, that his wife, Virginia Njoki's remains would only be buried if the police vacated his Kitengela palatial home.
He said his relatives would not mourn her in peace as long as the police maintained a 24-vigil at the home.
Pressure for the Government to act decisively and with urgency mounted as religious leaders in Nairobi and Mombasa called for tough action to reassure Kenyans of their security.
The Catholic Church, through its head, John Cardinal Njue, said security of Kenyans was a priority.
Njue said the Church was worried over insecurity, adding that it threatened to get out of hand.
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