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Top cop slaps ban on Kisii vigilante group

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Published on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 06:20

All Kisii vigilante groups have been banned.The ban comes in the wake of complaints from Gucha villagers that Sungusungu, Kumikumi and Amachuma, which carry out community policing work, have turned into terror thugs. Community policing and children’s rights boss at police headquarters Osborn Mwawaza ordered the ban.

Mwawaza made the announcement at Sameta during a community policing forum in Gucha district. He made the decisions after briefing by Gucha police boss Richard Ng'etich.“Vigilante groups are separate from community policing groups. Vigilantes are illegal,” Mwawaza said.

He said some community policing groups had overstepped their mandate and misuse their powers. He warned rouge community policing groups will be dissolved.

A spate of gory murders and lynchings have been blamed on vigilantes and outlaw community police youth. He said community police members should be vetted before appointment to avoid hiring criminals and social misfits.

The session heard that a large number of rape and defilement cases were settled out of court in Kisii and Nyamira counties.“We are concerned over the high incidence of rape and defilement cases in the region but most are covered up or withdrawn,” she added. Ends