GOING UP IN SMOKE?
By Times Team
Kenya Times, Kenya
Nov 8 2006
Security: Mp Laments Insecurity Has Reached Unprecedented Levels,
Cites Incidents Ranging From Carjackings, Raids To Ethnic Clashes
THE Government was yesterday put on notice over rampant insecurity
amid claims that the controversial Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan
and Sargarsyan could be back in the country.
Ndhiwa MP Jodhua Orwa Ojodeh (Narc) raised the issue in parliament,
demanding that Internal Security and Provincial Administration minister
John Michuki provides comprehensive statement on what the government
was doing to address insecurity in the country and to either confirm
or deny that the Armenian brothers are in the country.
The MP gave a chronology of unabated criminal incidents in the country
that included the Mathare flare-up as well as the recent raid on
Michuki’s Kangema home that also left a chief shot dead and sought
to know what the Government was doing about them.
Ojodeh raised the question parliament only hours after four armed
gangsters casually walked into Mombasa’s Moi Avenue Post Bank branch
and walked away with Sh 7.5 million.
He did not, however, give any more details regarding the Artur brothers
who were deported from the country in June after causing a security
scare at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The two had
drawn a gun to force into the country a passenger and luggage without
being inspected.
Mr. Michuki was not in the House, but his assistant Kingi Kahindi
promised to issue a statement later.
Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo who was in the Chair concurred with the
MP that the issue being raised was of grave concern and asked the
government to take the matter seriously.
Mr Michuki is under pressure following a sharp upsurge in incidents of
insecurity in the recent past with flare ups in Mathare, Kuresoi and
Kuria-Transmara border as well as spiralling cases of, bank robberies
and car-jackings.
In Mathare’s case, six people were killed on Monday night while
thousands were left homeless as bloody violence continued to
escalate. Police reports indicate that three of the people were hacked
to death during the violence while three others were shot dead by
intervening officers.
Even as Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Joseph Waweru slapped a 7.00
pm to 7.00 am curfew on Mathare residents, hundreds of them were by
yesterday evening fleeing their homes in fear of reprisal attacks by
members of outlawed gangs Mungiki and Taliban gangs, whom the police
yesterday attributed the violence to.
A contingent of General Service Unit (GSU) was last evening dispatched
to the sprawling slums as the regular and administration police
officers who had been stationed there were withdrawn following
accusation of alleged complicity.
In Kuresoi, latest reports say police gunned down four suspected
arsonists as renewed wave of ethnic skirmishes entered its fourth
day in the troubled division of Nakuru District, bringing to eight,
the number of lives so far lost since Sunday.
According to the Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer, Everret Wasige,
the four were caught up with by security personnel torching houses at
Gacharage Farm while armed with bows, poisoned arrows and pangas which
they allegedly used to attack the police when challenged to surrender.
Two weeks ago, assistant minister, Dr Wilfred Machage, escaped death
by a whisker around the same area when an arrow aimed at him hit a
wallet on his chest pocket leaving him with only minor bruise.
According to reports, two of the dead men involved in the Mathare
flare-up were killed by suspected members of the outlawed Mungiki
sect while the others were shot dead by police who found them wielding
panga’s and other crude weapons.
Besides these incidents, the rate of car-jackings and theft in the
city and the country in general have risen sharply with the latest
being the weekend theft at City Hall in which the Deputy Mayor’s
chain was stolen, the attempted car-jacking and shooting at a car
being driven by Kisumu Rural’s MP Prof Anyang Nyong’o’s wife Dorothy
and the raid in Michuki’s home.
In Parliament, Ojodeh expressed grave concerns over the contradicting
reports attributed to the Police Commissioner Ali and Mr Michuki
after the attack at the minister’s home.
"Was the raid at Michuki’s home stage managed?", he posed. "Police
Commissioner says no raid, but Michuki confirms the attack in his
home".
"In 1975 before former MP J.M Kariuki was murdered, there were planned
bomb attacks at OTC bus stage and Norfolk Hotel. Are Kenyans safe or
is there planned assassination of prominent persons?," he questioned.
The MP cited other insecurity incidents among them the mayhem in
Kibera three weeks ago.
In Mathare yesterday, a vehicle belonging to one of the residents and
a private clinic operated by an International NGO were set ablaze by
irate mob. Upendo clinic and the pick up car were burnt yesterday in
the morning.
According to the residents, the violence which begun on Sunday has
spread to neighbouring villages in the slum due to alleged incitement
by unnamed politicians and police laxity to patrol the affected
villages at night.
They said the initial conflict revolved around Mungiki adherents and
traders of illegal brew "Chang’aa" over payment of bribes.
Yesterday, Nairobi Provincial Police Officer King’ori Mwangi led a
contingent of administration and regular police officers in the area
to diffuse tension. It was, however, evident that irate residents
were uncomfortable with police presence, accusing them of patrolling
the slums during the day and deserting then at night when the enemies
attack.
Several people have been injured in the skirmishes that begun on Sunday
when a group of chang’aa traders clashed with Mungiki adherents. The
traders accused sect members of demanding at least Sh100 to operate
the illegal trade.
The skirmishes have also sucked in police officers in the area who
are accused of offering protection to alleged known gang members.
Over 200 houses have been reduced to ashes since Sunday as a number
of shops and houses were looted during the night violence.