Hardly a month passes without a plaintive cry for help from residents of Gusiiland who are under siege from outlawed militia groups. PointBlank has highlighted the matter twice this year. First on February 15 (Time to kiss perennial violence in Kisii goodbye), and on March 18 (Vigilantes giving community policing a sordid name).

Mr Fred Makana is the latest to voice concern at the latest spate of gory murders, which have residents quaking in their boots, literally. He claims that Sungu Sungu, which is being fingered for the deaths, was created by the Provincial Administration to address rising insecurity. And despite being outlawed, the group had already developed a life of its own and operates with impunity.

With the 2012 General Election fast approaching, Makana’s fear is politicians will breathe new life into the organisation by using it to intimidate opponents or rival supporters. He reckons that time is nigh for leaders in Nyamira and Kisii counties to work with the police and figure out how to put this unholy genie back in the bottle.