Saitoti accuses sect of Kirinyaga slaughter

By Standard Reporter

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti has said they received information indicating the Mungiki sect killed innocent people.

Prof Saitoti said the attack took place yesterday at 2am in a widely expected attack that left one village shocked.

While condemning the attack, the minister said necessary action would be taken against the killers, as he revealed 62 suspects were in custody in connection with the incident.

"We will take necessary action against those who committed these killings without fear or favour. As I speak, contingents of police are on the ground investigating and pursuing more suspects," he said.

Saitoti addressed the media in his office accompanied by his Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, PS Francis Kimemia and AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua.

He said those in custody will be subjected to thorough interrogation. Saitoti added they are pursuing leads that the attackers were transported to the area in vehicles. Some of the vehicles were intercepted along the Kirinyaga-Karatina highway armed with assorted weapons.

Evict residents

The minister added that yesterday’s attack was a culmination of locals’ anger over the manner in which Mungiki sect followers have been treating them.

"People have been expressing dissatisfaction with the manner in which they were mistreated by these gangs. However, we don’t condone any form of extra-judicial actions," he added.

Earlier, police said three other villagers were nursing serious wounds at a local hospital, following the night of slaughter. Tension and emotions remained high in the village, but top security commanders from Nyeri Provincial headquarters led by PPO John Mbijiwe and his CID counterpart Sebastian Ndaru were on the ground, calming down villagers.

Preliminary investigation also shows some Mungiki followers arrived in vehicles armed with machetes, axes, clubs and other weapons.

Some of the suspects were arrested at a roadblock on the Kirinyaga-Karatina highway, as they headed to the scene of the incident, and several weapons recovered from them.

The suspects have since confessed they were headed to evict residents of Kirinyaga from Karatina over a recent incident in which the locals lynched Mungiki suspects and torched their houses.

 

 

Read all about: Mungiki Kirinyaga Karatina

 

 

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