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Dreaded lynch mobs take over 'power' in Kisii

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Published on Thursday, 25 November 2010 01:58

The 2007 campaigns were punctuated with drama, but few would beat an incident where uniformed goons prevented a chopper carrying ODM leaders from landing in Kisii.  Those on board included Eldoret North MP William Ruto on a campaign mission.

The goons, said to have been hired by a politician, wielded crude weapons, including rungus, spears and bows and arrows. These were Amachuma, as the Abagusii goons who specialise in political operations are known.

According to informed sources, the Amachuma have their origins in Nyaribari.It is said Amachuma was formed for the sole purpose of tackling those perceived to be political opponents.

Residents held demonstrations in Suneka, Kisii, to denounce the ‘Sungusungu’ in the wake of recent mass killings blamed on the group.

Unlike the Mungiki gang in Central Province, which is also open to hire by politicians to counter rivals, Amachuma does not carry out murders, unless prompted by the need for self-defence.

Chinkororo on the other hand, are not constituted gangs. They are residents of volatile border areas, who can quickly assemble and transform into warriors whenever the community is under the threat of attack.

They have no designated leaders as their actions are dictated by the spur of the moment. "The Chinkororo are the young men in action whenever the Abagusi fight neighbouring communities. As happens in war situations, the Chinkororo kill and loot," says a source familiar with security matters in Kisii.

He adds: "When you hear of gruesome murders targeting some known criminals or witches in Kisii, the executors are the kizunguzungu or sungusungu as they are known. These are the Mungiki of Kisii land in their operations." A source says kizunguzungu, which was formed in 2003, was the idea of a former DC in dealing with security challenges in Bonchari area of the district.

"The village vigilante groups were very efficient with support from the Provincial Administration and ruthless in their operations, targeting known criminals and killing them," says the source, who requests to remain anonymous.

"With criminals wiped out, the gang turned to extortion for survival, later metamorphosing into a dangerous group for hire that could do anything to earn money. They killed innocent people and branded them criminals, provided they were paid for it," he says.

He adds: "These are the criminals behind the brutal execution of suspected wizards and thieves common in Abagusii land. Most of these victims could be innocent, but a nuisance to their rivals who want them eliminated."

Credible sources in Kisii say that a payment of Sh10,000 is enough to hire the kizunguzungu gang to "do the job" and ensure the body of the victim is never recovered.

A homestead burnt by an illegal gang over witchcraft allegations.

"They became notorious that they would confront their victim and demand money with the blood chilling warning that they would come for your neck if you fail to comply and brand you a criminal," says our source. He says that the DC, who had created them, tried to correct the mess, but ended up with two chiefs being killed the night after he held a meeting with them.

"The two chiefs had become the symbol of Government support for kizunguzungu," says our source.  Ironically, those arrested for the murders of the two administrators were innocent people, including journalists who were beaten and tortured to reveal what they knew about the killings.

Besides the two chiefs, a councillor and a businessman in Kisii also died in violent circumstances blamed on kizunguzungu before the Government banned organised gangs.

Today, kizunguzungu operates in the guise of community policing to hide their identity, but remain on the spot for several atrocities, including unexplained murders.