Police Headquarters wishes to inform the public that on the night of 21 st to 22 nd of April 2007, in Shehe Sub-location Karatina Division Nyeri West District, Central Province , and Karatina Police Station received a report that there was a violent clash going on between the public and members of the outlawed Mungiki sect.

Police moved to the scene immediately and commenced investigations. So far investigators have confirmed that 24 people have been killed and 3 have been seriously injured. 37 suspects have been arrested and assorted crude weapons including machetes (pangas), axes and clubs have also been recovered. Investigations are going on to identify, arrest and prosecute all the persons suspected of having taken part in these murders.

Initial investigations indicate that the violence was caused when members of public ganged up to resist a Mungiki move to expel all residents of Kirinyaga from Karatina. In recent weeks Wananchi in Kirinyaga district have been subjecting members of the outlawed Mungiki sect to mob-injustice.

Investigations are going on and Police Headquarters will brief the public as the investigations progress.

Police Headquarters is once gain appealing to the public in Central Province to report members of the sect committing crimes to police stations instead of using criminal violence to resist crime.

Kiraithe E.K.

For: Commission of Police .

April 21, 2009.