VZCZCXRO7052
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #0800/01 1130800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 230800Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9277
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 6490
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0104
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000800 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM KCRM CASC KE
SUBJECT: MUNGIKI-INSPIRED VIOLENCE HITS CENTRAL PROVINCE 
 
SUMMARY 
 ------- 
 
¶1.  Violence erupted in Karatina town and surrounding 
communities in Central Province after local residents 
resisted moves by the Mungiki criminal organization to force 
payment of a monthly levy on local residents and businessmen 
for "protection."  Despairing that police were unable or 
unwilling to protect them, the local community organized 
vigilante attacks on suspected Mungiki members in early 
April, killing 15 people.  In response, Mungiki organized on 
April 20 a counter-action in a neighboring village, killing 
24 residents, according to police contacts.  The President 
has ordered the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial 
Administration to conduct a probe of the killings to 
determine the root causes to prevent further outbreaks of 
violence.  However, tensions between local communities caught 
between rising food prices and the Mungiki's attempt to 
expand its extortion activities into new locations and 
sectors could cause further violence.  End Summary. 
 
THE MUNGIKI MOVE INTO KARATINA SPURS VIGILANTE ACTION 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  The Mungiki criminal organization was started in the 
mid-1980s as a religious revival movement, seeking to bring 
the Kikuyu tribe back to its traditional religious beliefs. 
Drawing heavily on the anti-colonial Mau Mau uprising for 
inspiration, it appealed to the young and dispossessed. 
However, the movement eventually turned into a feared 
criminal organization running extortion rackets mainly 
focused on the public transport sector and collecting fees 
for illegal water and electricity hookups in slums.  It is 
also known for oathing its members and violent retribution 
against those who resist its demands or attempt to leave or 
inform on the organization. 
 
¶3.  The Mungiki traditionally have not been active in the 
town of Karatina and other towns close to the provincial 
capital of Nyeri in Central Province.  However, Mungiki 
members recently came into Karatina and established an 
extortion racket in the public transport sector.  Residents 
initially did not resist the movement.  According to press 
reports, Mungiki plans to impose a levy on local residents 
and businessmen for "protection" and public frustration with 
the lack of police response to the Mungiki caused the local 
community to resort to vigilante action.  During the first 
two weeks of April, groups of residents burnt houses where 
suspected Mungiki members lived and violently attacked 
suspected Mungiki members.  Local press reported that 15 
suspected Mungiki members were killed in the violence. 
 
MUNGIKI REVENGE ATTACK 
---------------------- 
 
¶4.  On the night of April 20, the Mungiki planned and 
executed a revenge attack in a village in East Nyeri 
district.  According to press reports, machete-wielding 
Mungiki members launched a nighttime raid in Gataithi 
village, hacking to death a number of male residents.  Police 
contacts put the number dead at 24, and stated that 39 
suspects had been arrested.  Press reports noted 29 dead and 
63 suspects arrested. 
 
THE CURRENT SITUATION 
--------------------- 
 
¶5.  According to police contacts, tension in the area remains 
high.  The Kenya Police Service has increased the number of 
officers in the area and deployed its General Services Unit 
(a SWAT-type rapid response unit).  The Administration Police 
has also increased its presence in the area.   On April 21, 
President Mwai Kibaki ordered the Minister of Internal 
Security and Provincial Administration, George Saitoti, to 
conduct an inquiry into the events to prevent further 
violence.   Saitoti and Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited 
the area on April 22.  The visit may help calm the situation. 
 
OUR RESPONSE 
------------ 
 
¶6.  The Regional Security Office (RSO) reached out to its 
police contacts on April 21 after hearing of the violence. 
The same day RSO sent an SMS message to the Embassy 
community, Overseas Security Advisory Council, international 
 
NAIROBI 00000800  002 OF 002 
 
 
schools, and consular wardens advising that travel to the 
area should be avoided.  RSO also contacted the Peace Corps 
to determine the status of the four volunteers deployed to 
the area around Karatina.  All were either in Nairobi in 
training or on leave.  RSO advised Peace Corps that the 
volunteers should not redeploy to the area for several days 
to allow a determination of the situation on the ground.  On 
April 22, RSO sent a further e-mail and SMS stating that 
tensions remain high and recommending that travel to the area 
be avoided.  We will continue to monitor the situation. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7.  The violence in Karatina is not ethnically motivated. 
However, tensions between local communities caught between 
rising food prices and the Mungiki's attempt to expand its 
extortion activities into new locations and sectors could 
cause further conflict in Central Province.  We will continue 
to follow developments closely.  Per previous reporting the 
police have been accused of extrajudicial killings of Mungiki 
gang members.  There is now a chorus of voices from civil 
society calling for swift police action (within the rule of 
law).  The government (and police response) will be closely 
watched by all.  End Comment. 
RANNEBERGER