Fear has gripped parts of the country as the dreaded Mungiki sect's activities seem to be re-emerging after years of non-existence, following a violent crackdown agaisnt the group and their remnants by the government.
Residents of Nakuru County have been witnessing crimes and murders that are similar to those associated with the outlawed gang.
The gang is known to carry out bizzare activities such as chopping of private parts; skinning and gouging out the victims’ eyes. Recently, eight commercial sex workers in Nakuru town were brutally murdered.
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This comes along with other numerous complaints of extortion from traders and people who want operate matatus in certain areas.
According to Nakuru Street Traders and Hawkers Association chairman Symon Nasieku, the gang has become too bold in their crimes to play down about their existence.
“It is no secret, there is an illegal gang that operates in the town and has been extorting money from traders and matatu operators,” recounted Nasieku as quoted by The Standard.
The gang is said to be imposing harsh fines and punishments, sometimes even expelling traders who fail to comply with their demands.
Local leaders led by Nakuru town East MP David Gikaria, have admitted to the existence of the gang and are now calling on the police to investigate the issue.
However, Nakuru County Police Commander Hassan Barua dismissed the claims stating that they are still not aware of the re-emergence of Mungiki in Nakuru town.
Last week, Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua sparked contention after he attended a burial of an alleged Mungiki leader.
The Governor, however, downplayed the concerns, stating that he only attended the burial as a personal friend to the deceased. The traders in the area accused the Governor of protecting the outlawed sect.
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“We are not aware of the re-emergence of the proscribed group,” he told the Standard.
Earlier this week Nakuru governor, Kinuthia Mbugua, was largely criticised by the public for attending the funeral one of the members of the sect who was found murdered and his body discovered in a bush in Kiambu. The governor later confessed that he was not aware the deceased was a gang member.
Back in the 1990s, the Mungiki became infamous for the cold-blooded nature of the hundreds of murders attributed to them.
The brutal killings often involved the sawing off of people’s heads grabbed the country’s attention and simultaneously repelled it like a blood-curdling scene in a horror movie.
