100 Sect Suspects Held in City Fracas

The East African Standard (Nairobi)/December 5, 2001

Over one hundred Mungiki sect members and hawkers were arrested in the city after three hours of running battles with the police.

Two people who were caught up in the melee were seriously injured.

Trouble started when a group of 50 sect members invaded a matatu terminus at the busy Accra Road at around 11 am and announced they had taken over management of a number of routes.

They said they had taken over all Dandora matatu routes that comprise number 32, 42 and 45. Central Police Station officers accompanied by City Council askaris ordered the Mungiki members to disperse but the adherents instead drew daggers and pangas and threatened to fight the law enforcers.

Under the command of Central OCPD, Mr Sammy Maritim, police fired tear gas canisters at the group. But instead of dispersing, the rioters were joined by hawkers as they stoned the officers and their vehicles.

Maritim said his men and the City Council askaris arrested 100 suspects and recovered 20 machetes.