PH
Police in Nyeri County have arrested 10 men suspected to be Mungiki adherents while taking an oath along River Chania in Kamakwa location.
Area OCPD, Masai Makau said police last night intercepted the suspects as they tried to flee toward Nyeri town following a tip off from the members of public.
“Our officers on patrol in the area received an alert from the public about a group of people with deadlocks who had assembled along the banks of Chania River,” the OCPD explained.
He said the public suspected them to be Mungiki adherents and reported the matter the police who responded quickly.
“We swiftly mobilized security agents who headed toward the Kamakwa area. However, some suspects had got wind of the raid and managed to escape,” Makau observed.
He said the police managed to arrest the 10 suspects and also impounded a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) they were using to escape towards the town centre.
Makau said on searching them, police recovered several rolls of bhang and tobacco, adding that the suspects are still being held at Nyeri police station where they are being interrogated.
The OCPD said police officers were still on the ground and thoroughly combing the area in a bid to flush out those who could be hiding along the river banks.
“We thank Kamakwa and Nyeri resident in general for volunteering the information that led to the arrests and ask them to continue co-operating with police,” Makau stated.
He issued a warning to members of proscribed groups and other criminal gangs who are bent on breaking the law that their days are numbered.
“It will not be business as usual. We are determined to smoke them from their hideouts,” the police boss added.
He said the suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are over.
Central Region police commander, Larry Kieng refuted claims the sect had resurrected, terming the Monday night case an isolated case.
