120 Mungiki sect members in custody

By Cyrus Ombati

Some 120 suspected followers of the Mungiki sect were arrested in Kasarani area of Nairobi.

They were picked up from various matatu termini on Monday afternoon where they were allegedly extorting money from matatu operators, police said.

The officers were acting on complaints from matatu operators in Mwiki, Zimmerman, Githurai and Santon areas, where the suspects were harassing and extorting money from them.

Nairobi Area PPO Anthony Kibuchi confirmed that police would intensify their operations after claims that the sect is regrouping.

"They pretend to be saved but we are informed they are trying to come back with their illegal activities. Our teams are on the ground," he said.

Elsewhere in Luckysama area, a man disarmed a gunman in a dramatic botched robbery incident. A ceska pistol loaded with six bullets was recovered from the suspect who escaped on foot.

The man told police he was walking home on Monday night when a gunman confronted him.