Brutish 'Panga Justice' still persists in Meru miraa farms

32-year-old Kimathi Munjia at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital on January 12. A guard chopped off his leg on suspicion of stealing miraa. However, Mr Munjia denies any wrong-doing. PHOTO | KENNEDY KIMANTHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • As is the norm, those caught stealing miraa have either their legs or hands severed, to serve as a warning to others.

  • Those who chop off the limbs are never remorseful.

  • A majority of victims are men aged between 20 and 35.

  • On a visit to Laare, Mutuati and Kaelo townships, one notices that many people are missing a limb or two. 

  • A special machete known as sealine is used for the rough justice.

A rather brutal way of settling disputes in Meru has been in existence for long.

Panga justice in this part of the country is fast and bloody. It involves chopping off limbs, especially of miraa thieves.

As is the norm, those caught stealing miraa have either their legs or hands severed, to serve as a warning to others. And those who chop off the limbs are never remorseful.

To these residents of miraa-rich Igembe South, Igembe North and Igembe Central, collectively known as Nyambene, reporting such a matter to the authorities is a waste of time.

On a visit to Laare, Mutuati and Kaelo townships, one notices that many people are missing a limb or two. 

A special machete known as "sealine" is used for the rough justice.

Others do not have hands or legs resulting from domestic violence or fights over land.

In March 2014, 400 cases of machete assaults were reported at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.

In an earlier interview with the Nation, Mr Kimathi Mungania, a health researcher at the hospital said 90 per cent of the cases involved men aged between 20 and 35, a majority who happen to be school dropouts.

'CORRECT PUNISHMENT'

Mr Kimathi Munjia, 32, is the latest victim of such an attack.

Last Sunday, he was assaulted by a guard who mistook him for a thief as he walked through his father’s miraa farm in Kaulune Village.

Mr Munjia was heading to his brother’s house at 8pm when he was confronted by the guard.

Without uttering a word, the man chopped off his leg and ran towards his employer’s house to deliver the “good” news.

The elated guard told the victim’s parents that he had punished a miraa thief, the Igembe way.

The victim was taken to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital more than 12 hours after the attack.

Mr Peter Kobia, an elder, said Mr Munjia’s mother rushed to the scene and found her son bleeding.

“She told us that his right foot was still in the shoe, slightly separated from the rest of the leg.

After being informed that it was his son who had been “punished” the old man did not bother to have him taken to hospital.

“He told us that was the correct punishment that should be meted out to such people,” Mr Kobia said.

“It is disheartening because the young man was not found with any miraa. He was a just a victim of circumstances.”

RULE OF LAW

Police have launched a manhunt for Mr Munjia’s father and the guard.

Although, panga attacks are decreasing, according to police records, many cases still go unreported.

Locals accuse the police of failing to investigate the attacks.  The Judiciary too, has not been let off the hook with some people saying it takes ages to successfully prosecute one case.

And there are those who support the panga justice. One of them is Mr David Gichunge.

“What is the use of taking suspects to court when we have instant justice? This punishment should go on,” he said.

Igembe North Police boss Peter Kimani blames age-long traditions on the attacks.

He told the Nation by phone that many cases, some of which go unreported, arose from land and miraa disputes.

“One or two serious cases are reported every month. We have ensured that those reported are prosecuted. We have been advising courts to give harsh punishments to perpetrators,” Mr Kimani said.

He accused administrators of failing to educate locals on the rule of the law.