Three Killed in Orgy of Mungiki Violence

The Nation/October 11, 2002
By Muchemi Wachira

Nairobi -- Three people were killed in an orgy of violence in Nyahururu and Othaya said to have been orchestrated by members of the outlawed Mungiki sect. Two of the victims were reportedly killed during a confrontation at Baumann in Nyahururu after the sect members demanded extra "cess" payment from potato traders and matatus [commuter vehicles].

The third was hacked to death when about 100 Mungiki members who had gone to collect the body of a colleague from the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital Mortuary went on the rampage, beating everyone in sight and damaging vehicles.

In the Nyahururu incident, wananchi revolted on Wednesday against sect members who have been collecting a Sh100 fee from each vehicle transporting potatoes to the market and matatus plying the route.

They doubled the fee without warning and erected road checks in Baumann, Mung'etho, Huhoini, Kagwara and Gathanje areas, where transporters and brokers were forced to pay Sh200 for each lorry leaving the farms.

Violence erupted after some people contested the raised charges.

One of the sect members was reportedly killed during fighting at Baumann trading centre, where the Mungiki group was said to have set upon everyone in sight. They reportedly slashed people with simis before they were repulsed.