‘Kwekwe’ squad on the spot over sect killings
By Cyrus Ombati

The UN investigator on extrajudicial killings Philip Alston’s report has indicted a special police squad over the deaths of suspected Mungiki sect followers.

Just like many other elite squads in the force, Kwekwe, was formed in July 2006 when macabre beheadings and extortions linked to Mungiki were at their peak.

It was formed days after President Kibaki issued a warning to the sect on June 1, 2006 after the members killed a chief and assistant chief in his Othaya constituency. Kibaki warned that no one could defeat the Government and whoever was behind the murders would be punished.

“Don’t think you will kill and get away with it. You will be caught and be killed because you cannot compete with us,” warned Kibaki.

As if they were provoking the State, days after the announcement, a group believed to be sect members attacked the rural home of then Internal Security Minister John Michuki.

It was then that senior officers were ordered to assemble an elite squad and equip it.

By then, matatu operators on several routes had held demonstrations and complained of harassment by criminal gangs. Equally, a section of Nairobi and Central Province residents were protesting, saying criminal gangs were harassing them and extorting money.

Within two months, the Mungiki gangs had killed eleven police officers and taken their guns.

And in anger, some residents took the law into their hands in Kiambu and smoked out some of the sect members.

In slums like Mathare in Nairobi, the situation was worse as the sect members controlled most businesses and imposed illegal taxes.

by any means necessary

‘Kwekwe’ was formed and ordered to use all means to rout out the sect. A team of 14 officers were selected and given vehicles, cash, matatu crew uniforms and other resources.

Members of the squad were drawn from various units within the CID. The officers have some of the best training in crime prevention.

The squad was initially commanded from Nairobi Area offices and the officers combed the city, Rift Valley and Central provinces where they arrested suspects.

Whereas other human rights organisations say close to 500 Mungiki suspects have died in the operations, the director of Oscar Foundation argued yesterday he had documented over 1,721 cases.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com/

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Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 02:44:39 -0800 [03/01/2009 04:44:39 AM CST]
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: How is the Lie a Lie when Plain Facts are on the Table……