The government will not allow regrouping of outlawed gangs in Nyeri County, the County Commissioner (CC), Yatich Kipkemei has warned.
Kipkemei noted that the government had contained illegal brews and criminal gangs including mungiki but some elements were trying to recruit members.
Speaking on Saturday at Othaya stadium during Celebrations to mark this year’s Madaraka Day, the CC said, “I stand here to warn people trying to reconstitute mungiki in this county that the government would ruthlessly crash them.”
He disclosed that recently 100 youths from Othaya sub-county alone had been recruited by people from a neighbouring county and two had even gone to Somalia but have since returned.
The CC said that through intelligence reports, the government had names for the culprits and their movements were being monitored.
Kipkemei warned that the government would not sit back and watch criminal gangs maiming or killing people.
“We have enough information and have formed a very strong team of both civilians and police and soon we will do a very serious crackdown,” the CC warned.
At the same time, he assured residents of adequate security and urged parents to monitor the discipline of their children, while urging leaders to join hands with the government to reverse the dangerous trend.
Speaking during the same occasion, the Nyeri Governor, Mutahi Kahiga said his government supports a motion by Senator Sylvia Kasanga, seeking to establish mental health and psycho-social support centres at the county level.
He urged Kenyans to open up to one another and desist from keeping problems unto themselves to the point of committing suicide.
By Mwangi Gaitha
