Village where throats were slit with power saw

King’eero whose name translates to the ‘slaughter house’ is a tiny village a few metres from Wangige town in Kabete Constituency, Kiambu County.

Adjacent to the junction of King’eero market is a steep hill which has struck fear in residents for more than six decades: it was where people’s throats were slit, their heads rolling down to the ankles of the hill, hence the name ‘King’eero’.

The name dates back to the colonial times when wazungu lived at the hill. Stories passed down generations have it that the white settlers had a machine that slit throats of Kenyans who undermined them. The same machine was also used to cut firewood into small chips.

King’eero has lived up to its name. Murders and robberies have persisted for ages, leaving residents in fear and the police out of their wits.

Just last year, Kabete MP aspirant Charles Chege was allegedly abducted by armed gunmen at King’eero while driving home to Mountain View estate while Francis Njuguna, a resident, was ambushed by thugs who stole Sh10,000 and a cellphone.

He was hit several times on the head with a metallic object. And on August 6 this year, Francis Mbatha, a photo journalist, left home at King’eero and disappeared but resurfaced a few weeks later.

 Villagers told The Nairobian that the crimes in the area are fueled by the ‘King’eero’ nickname dating back to when John Waweru was 32.

The now 80-year-old village elder told The Nairobian that King’eero was so named during the state of emergency in 1952 when it was a ‘slaughter house’ for those who opposed white settlers besides its fame as the place for cutting firewood.

“There was a machine that was placed at the top of the hill by the colonial masters, it caused panic. It would produce a certain sound that would create fear. The machine served two purposes; slitting throats and cutting firewood into small chips,” recalls Mzee Waweru.

He adds that “the place was named King’eero, meaning the slaughter house and due to this it was passed down generations and that there is likelihood that the name gave birth to the vices seen in the area today.

Waweru says the name has caused misery as outsiders feared and shunned people from King’eero.

“We were branded criminals and sometimes our children would be denied job opportunities because they hailed from this area.”

 John Wapicha, another villager, says “I was told by my grandfather that people were taken to the hill by the colonial masters where their throats were slit and heads rolled down to the foot of the hill. It was scary. I think because of these stories it became a hotbed of ‘ngeta’ and other vices and people have lived up to its name.

“However, things have changed. We rarely hear cases where people have been killed. We live peacefully and security has been beefed up,” Wapicha clarified.

 Benjamin Ngige is the King’eero Kaa Sober administrator who says majority of young crooks now work under the county government to ensure crime cases   are curbed.

“There were days when people were robbed at 6am on their way to work but we are now looking for ways to assist this young men and women. Insecurity has decreased because of this programme.

“After work, these youths go to classes because we have enrolled them in colleges where they are taught various courses such as carpentry and plumbing. So many people have suffered in the hands of robbers and it’s not late for a new dawn. The name King’eero should not define us,” Ngige told The Nairobian.