The violent incident which started early in the day left a trail of destruction reminiscent of the 2009 Mungiki-vigilante wars. Boda Boda operators engaged suspected Mungiki members for the better part of the day along Sagana-Karatina road.
Police officers from several stations in Kirinyaga and Karatina patrolled the tense area, attempting to keep the peace. The officers had to fire in the air to disperse the rowdy and heavily armed boda boda operators who were baying for the blood of the Mungiki sect members.
During the violent altercation, several motorcycles were burnt down; eyewitnesses claim four to five had been torched.
Speaking to The Standard, Central PPO Mr Francis Munyambu and Kirinyaga Central District OCPD Patrick Oduma confirmed that four motorcycles were destroyed.
“They burnt down four motorcycles but we were able to intervene and separate the groups. We also managed to arrest one person who is believed to have created enmity between the two youths groups,” said Munyambu.
However, the PPO dismissed claims that one man was killed in the scuffle.
“We have no deaths. Police were able to quell the skirmishes,” stated Munyambu in a telephone interview.
Explaining how the incident started, OCPD Oduma said that a suspect is believed to have ferried some armed youth in a vehicle to the site.
Sources corroborated this adding that the youth, who are Mungiki members, were intending to avenge the murder of a fellow Mungiki member last week.
Armed with crude weapons boda boda operators clashed with armed youth.
The incident comes weeks after the Provincial Administration in various parts of Central province raised alarm over alleged resurgence of Mungiki in the area.
Source: Standard Digital
