Gang emerges to deal with suspected thugs

By Linah Benyawa

When Susan Mwende heard a knock at her door, she opened it gracefully believing it was a good visitor.

It was on a Sunday afternoon when Mwende was preparing lunch for her husband, Silas Anunda and their four children in Mshomoroni, Mombasa County.

To her amazement, when she opened the door she saw a group of over 50 people armed with clubs, pangas, stones and some carrying petrol. They demanded to see her husband.

“I told them that he was not around but they pushed me aside and entered,” recalls Mwende.

In the meantime, when Anunda, a matatu driver, heard the commotion outside, he breached a wall in his house and dashed outside to a nearby church where a service was ongoing.

Cruel murder

The mob went after him and forcefully removed him from the church as the congregation screamed.

“They took him out of the church and beat him to death with the pangas and metal rods. They even took hot oil from a woman who was frying fish and poured it on his face,” she recalls crying.

Mwende came to learn later that her husband was killed because he was suspected to have stolen a mobile phone.

Kisauni OCPD Julius Wanjohi said he was aware of the incident, adding he had ordered his officers to investigate.

“The reports we have is that the deceased was a criminal but when the family members came to the office to complain, we assured them that we would look into the matter,” said Wanjohi.

But Mwende insists her husband was innocent though he had previous criminal records of disobeying traffic rules.

Anunda’s killing came a few days before two pastors were killed by a mob.

Residents say the mob killing is one of many others that have been reported in some parts of Kisauni District.

They say a group, popularly known as “Funga File”, kills any person believed to be a criminal or those who have criminal records and those they believe have never reformed even after being jailed.

Mr Abdalla Abdurrahman, a member of Kisauni Community Policing, says the group emerged in 2007 when the crime rate in the area was too high.

“Residents were angry at the high rate of insecurity in the area.  Some youths formed a group of about 50-100 people, which they called ‘Funga File’ that used to eliminate suspected hard core criminals,” explains Abdalla.

Fighting crime

He says the group was helpful in minimising the crime rate in the area. He, however, adds that police were not aware of its existence and came to learn of it later.

“Once a criminal steals, the complainant traces his home then sends this group to eliminate him. Before he is killed, he is forced to reveal the names of people he works with and their hideouts. They will be the next targets,” notes Abdalla.

Though it had ceased operations, Abdalla says, the release of some hard core criminals had led to the re-emergence of the group as crime increased.

He says, “We have worked with the police department to ensure that the group is eliminated. Some members are currently having pending cases in Mombasa courts.”

Wanjohi says he is not aware of the group’s existence though he is aware of a mob that kills hardcore criminals.

“We have heard so many cases of mob killing of suspected criminals and I cannot tell if it’s the said group called “Funga File”.  We call them mob injustices for taking the law into their own hands,” says Wanjohi.

He says they have been pleading with residents not to take the law into their hands and instead hand over suspected criminals to the police.

“Nobody has ever given us names of members of the said group so we cannot say that it is an organised group which is eliminating criminals. All we know is that it is mob injustice,” he adds.

But Councillor Kevin Lulani of Maweni Ward in Kisauni Constituency acknowledges that the group existed and had an office in Makaburini area. He, however, says it was disbanded by the Provincial Administration and their office brought down early last year.

New group

“If there are occurrences related to that group then it might be a new group that is cropping up,” says Lulani.

But Coast Women in Development Programmes Director Betty Sharon insists the group exists in areas of Kisauni.

“I have heard of the group. It usually identifies a criminal, goes to his house and warns him together with his family then reports to police that they have traced a thug. Afterwards they track and kill him,” says Sharon.