By Patrick Mathangani

Fear envelopes parts of Meru north region when night falls. Residents cower behind closed doors hoping they will not be the next victims of a terror gang that has taken over the area.

The Mungiki-like gang of extortionists has been roaming parts of the region in Igembe South District where it has held residents hostage in a reign of spine-chilling terror.

Residents say, in its bloody acts, the gang has killed nearly 30 people over the past two years, mostly those who refused to part with extortion fees and those it accused of being criminals.

Gang members extort money from a matatu and, inset, a man picks miraa from a local farm.

The gang, which sprouted as a self-styled vigilante group in Maua town and its outskirts, later transformed into a killer squad sponsored by business people to fight personal wars in the lucrative miraa business.

Calling itself the Masombe gang — after the nickname of one of its leaders — few people dare mention the gang by name without looking over their shoulders lest they be heard by its informers.

Residents and those familiar with its operations told The Standard gang members collect taxes from matatus on local routes while others are stationed at town centres and miraa farms which they guard and collect fees from owners.

Residents who spoke on condition they not be identified, said the gang members operate as if there is no law enforcement in the area.

However, there were claims that some chiefs and police officers have allowed the gang to blossom as they gain from proceeds of extortion.

Residents allege many chiefs are known to have teamed up with the ‘vigilantes’ to oppress residents.

The gang’s reign of terror was evident as many residents dared not speak out for fear of reprisals.

In Mukine village in Igembe South, relatives of Mr James Kikundi recall one night last August when gang members dragged him from his house at 10pm, accusing him of owning a gun.

A group of about 50 men frog-marched him to a roadside, where they stoned and hacked him to death.

"They had pangas and axes," his mother Mary Mwimbi, said, recalling he was taken away as his two children watched.

"When we saw the body, we could not recognise it. It had many cuts and was badly disfigured," said Mwimbi.

The family members, as well as several other villagers, believe the gang was being used by a member of the Provincial Ddministration who planned to grab their miraa farm.

Kikundi’s brother, William Kiulio, said the family never buried the man as the same official frustrated their efforts to get a burial permit.

"At first, he demanded a bribe of Sh1,500 but he kept on demanding more after we paid him," said Kiulio. "We eventually gave up. We do not know what happened to the body."

Residents said when it sprouted two years ago, the gang was targeting people thought to be criminals. Locals were happy with its work, as insecurity had shot up and residents had lost faith in the police.

Masombe gang members question a suspect near Maua town. Photos: George Mulala/Standard

But soon, it evolved into a killer squad that has reigned with impunity, conducting a kangaroo courts whose rulings at times end up with a ‘death sentence’ on those put on ‘trial’.

In Mukine, villagers said the gang has lately taken to arbitrating domestic quarrels between couples, at a fee.

"If you break up with your wife, they force her to come back. They then whip the man and force him to sleep with his wife," said a man who asked not to be named.

The gang marches along village paths, with some members armed with clubs, machetes and handcuffs.

In the entire area of Igembe North and South where it operates, it is rare to find dreadlocked men as all were forced to cut their hair. The group has decreed that all dreadlocked people are criminals.

In Njoune village, residents said the gang controls water intake points along the local Bwathunaro River. Members are stationed along the river which serves Kiengu, Njoune and Maili Tatu, where they charge up to Sh1,000 per truck.

A supporter of the gang at Njoune said it deals with crime, and denied they killed innocent people.

According to residents, the gang is mainly funded by miraa cartels, who use it to intimidate rivals.

Inside a one-acre farm in Machunguru village in Igembe North, Mr Peter M’Murwithia said he had hired gang members to watch over it.

However, local OCPD Maurice Kiplagat said he was not aware of the gang’s activities.

He said he did not know its leader and could not confirm information that the man has been arrested several times, even as late as last week, and released without charge.

Said Kiplagat: "These are serious allegations that have not come to our attention," he said. he added, "People have not reported to us, and in the absence of complainants, it’s very hard for us to act."

However, he said police would investigate the matter and arrest the culprits if found.