Kenya: Members of outlawed Mungiki and Kamjesh sects have resurfaced and are extorting money from matatu operators.
The sects’ members have taken over matatu routes in Eastlands and Matatu Welfare Association Chairman Dickson Mbugua says police appear reluctant to address the problem.
Mr Mbugua told The Standard on Saturday the gangs stab the matatu crew who decline to part with illegal charges that range from Sh50 to Sh200 daily.
“Now they are not threatening our crew, they actually stab them if they refuse to part with the money. And they are even raising the daily collection to about Sh200,” he claimed.
Matatu operators in Dandora withdrew their services for the better part of yesterday to protest police inaction over the sects’ members who operate openly.
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“The police are aware and we have raised these issues. We don’t understand why they are reluctant to take action but we cannot continue to do business with this harassment,” Mbugua said.
However, police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki said she was not aware of the matter but promised that police would launch investigations once this is reported.
“I am not aware of these claims but I want them to report the particular individuals so that we can take appropriate action,” said Ms Mboroki.
She promised that they will deal firmly with the sect members. “The other time we crushed the Mungiki and even now we will deal with them in a similar way.”
