A suspected member of the outlawed Mungiki sect was killed, while several others escaped, at the South Ngariama ranching scheme in Murinduko ward, Mwea-East.
According to the residents, over 500 people from South Ngariama managed to chase them away and set seven semi-permanent houses on fire.
“There were two groups, one from town and the one from the opposite direction. There is one person who refused to escape when and he decided to fight the people,” Rose Wanjiku, a resident, said.
The locals alleged that over 30 members of the outlawed sect had been living in the scheme.
Residents claimed that the group had invaded the scheme, extorting money from farmers and taking over several pieces of land.
“They wanted to chase one resident from his piece of land when the angry residents attacked them. Despite being armed with assorted weapons, we managed to overpower them, and one was killed before his body was set on fire,” a resident Peter Wanjohi said.
Additionally, the residents said they don’t want the group around the scheme
“The group has been chasing people away from the scheme because of the fertile pieces of land. If you get a good piece of land, they come and chase you away,” another resident said.
Residents stated that the sect members were brought to the area by a man posing as a land surveyor for the scheme.
“This man had been using these people to forge our land documents, causing confusion in this scheme, but we have said enough is enough,” William Muthike said.
Also Read: DPP Withdraws Case Against Ex-Mungiki Leader Maina Njenga
Security Beefed
Police have intensified security in the area to avert any attempts by those suspected members of the outlawed sect to revenge.
The officers have also urged residents to report any incident and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The body was taken to the mortuary by police officers, with residents affirming that they would not allow the group to retaliate.
Also Read: How Identity, Politics and Crime Keep Mungiki Alive
Gachagua Accuses Govt of Sponsoring Mungiki
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the government of aiding the resurgence of the Mungiki.
Speaking on January 19, Gachagua said the state is sponsoring Maina Njenga to cause chaos in Mt. Kenya.
Gachagua warned that the ongoing abductions, killings of young Kenyans, and the reemergence of criminal gangs in certain regions highlight a troubling trend.
He then directed his allies to gather lawyers to write to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to prevent any loss of lives.
“The ICC should not wait until crimes against humanity have been committed. Get a team of lawyers to write to the ICC to invite them to come to Kenya and make sure that the activities of criminal gangs are not allowed to take place,” Gachagua said.
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