MPs demand Mungiki arrests

MPs have asked the Government to expose and apprehend the financiers of the outlawed Mungiki sect. This came up on Wednesday when Parliament interrupted its normal business to discuss the recent killings in parts of Central Province by people who are believed to be members of the illegal group.

In what appeared to be a blame game, MPs accused the government of laxity in dealing with illegal gangs as Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh challenged legislators and religious leaders to come out and openly condemn the gangs.

Government Chief Whip George Thuo (Juja, PNU) moved the motion of adjournment that allowed the House to discuss the matter for an hour. Former Cabinet minister Martha Karua (Gichugu, PNU) said individuals behind the killings should be apprehended.

Ms Karua said 44 and not 29 people were killed in the Mathira mayhem, saying 15 suspected sect members were lynched by vigilante groups. She accused the police of abdicating their responsibility of taking charge of security during the entire week when the mayhem occurred.

“A criminal act is a criminal act by whatever name,” she said. She claimed the latest information indicated that the vigilante groups were escorted by the police when they fished out and killed suspects.

She further alleged that at least 3,000 attackers rode into the area on motorcycles, brandishing all manner of weapons. “It is as if security apparatus had gone to sleep,” she said, demanding that the police give an explanation on their whereabouts during the period of attack.

Mathira MP Ephraim Maina (Safina) revisited the events of the night of April 21 when the killings were executed, claiming outsiders were involved. He said it was clear the gang was funded and protected and the attack well-planned.

“It takes money to have all these people attack a very peaceful village in the way they did,” he said, claiming further that those who came in a convoy of motorcycles had passed by security road blocks.

Seconding the motion, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa (PNU) said the Mathira killings were a massacre and a national problem. Kisumu Town East MP Shabir Shakeel (ODM) said lack of understanding and commitment was part of the problem.

Protect officers

“People don’t trust and no longer rely on security forces to protect them,” he said. But Mr Ojode defended police officers from accusations of laxity. “When police officers are killed not a single person comes out to say it wrong. We must also protect our officers,” he said.

The assistant minister hit out at leaders questioning their silence on the matter. “The truth must come out. How come some of you colleagues come out to defend these gangs when police officers arrest them? Why do some colleagues suggest that we negotiate and how come even Christians do not openly condemn them?”

He told the gangs their days are numbered. “We shall never negotiate with criminals when I am still the assistant minister in this office,” he said.