The Government yesterday issued tough directives against the Mungiki sect including the shooting on sight of its members who resist arrest.
Rift Valley PC Peter Raburu also ordered the immediate demolition of the Mungiki shrine at their operational head-quarters in Ng’arua Division of Laikipia District.
The PC additionally ordered for a country-wide man-hunt for all Mungiki leaders especially the national chairman Njenga Maina so that they can face criminal charges over the recent killings.
Raburu wondered why members of the sect banned last year were still criss-crossing the country unleashing terror on innocent Kenyans.
The PC said the sect has no respect for the laws of the country as they kill without any reason or provocation.
The PC talking to the leaders at Nyahururu town before proceeding to Karandi where the sect is based.
Mr Raburu was accompanied by high-ranking security personnel including the Rift Valley PPO, Mr Alex Rono and Laikipia District Commissioner, Mr Eliud Parsankul.
Matatu owners told the PC that some of their fleets have abandoned some routes out of fear of being attacked by the followers.
Such routes include Nakuru and Karatina. They said the sect members now take drugged snuff and bhang in a bid to transform themselves into fearless barbaric grouping.
Meanwhile, the Catholic church has challenged the new Government to honour its promise of safe-guarding the security of all Kenyans.
Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC) chairman archbishop John Njue called on the Government to immediately review the security situation in the whole country and re-assure Kenyans they are safe.
Elsewhere, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said from mid-2001 it had documented the killing of at least 59 Kenyans including some Mungiki sect adherents, the maiming of scores and the destruction of property in violence attributed to the out-lawed sect.
The Commission expressed fears that the kind of the violence which left 16 people dead in Nakuru might get out of control unless the Government took tough measures including disarmament and outlawing all militia groups within the shortest time possible.
“The violence raises issues of national security because its application is not only confined to the struggle for control of the public service vehicle industry," KHRC said in a statement.
Consequently, said KHRC, for an end to the problem the national security organs will have to do more than simply increasing security and arresting suspects.
Another lobby group, the Citizens Against Violence, asked the Narc Government to enforce the ban on Mungiki sect and to put in place sound internal security measures to control inter-group conflicts which may lead to national and regional crisis.
Elsewhere, a private investigator has pointed out that the Mungiki motto is to instil fear in the people so that they may gain respect.
"Mungiki believes that for them to gain respect among the Kenyan public, they must instil fear and that is why they will murder people in cold blood," he said.
The investigator also claimed some of the Mungiki members are either police officers or police informers.
Meanwhile, leaders from Western Province yesterday protested the killings in Nakuru.
The leaders urged the new Government to effect last year's ban on militia groups in the country to ensure maximum security of citizens.
The clergy said it was unbelievable that even after the ban of the militia groups, the Mungiki sect members had continued to unleash terror on innocent wananchi.
The clergymen expressed fear that the sect might transform into a bigger armed group to be used by politicians and cause political instability in the country.
They appealed to the Government to move fast and contain activities of the sect before they claim lives of more innocent Kenyans.
Immediate former Nakuru town MP David Manyara, businessman Zakayo Maina Waweru and a matatu operator Mr Njoroge Kariuki were yesterday reportedly arrested and interrogated in connection with the weekend violence.
Separately, police in Nakuru yesterday launched a manhunt for three top leaders of the outlawed Mungiki sect who allegedly masterminded the massacre of 19 people in Nakuru.
At the same time, detectives recovered a home-made gun capable of firing and arrested three more suspects as a crackdown on members of the sect extended to neighbouring districts.
Police were looking for the three matatus allegedly used to ferry the killers to three estates on the night of terror.
Nakuru police boss Joel Langat and the investigating team led by CID chief Jonathan Chelule told a press conference that those arrested will face murder charges.
Langat said the three Mungiki leaders at large co-ordinated and organised the killings from an operations base in Engachura.
He disclosed that the sect leaders were well-known people and have even appeared in print and electronic media, issuing press statements.
The police chief said the total number suspects in custody are 53 excluding the former Nakuru Town MP David Manyara, businessmen Zakayo Maina and Joseph Njoroge Kariuki alias Bamazu.
In Molo, 12 Mungiki suspects have been arrested as the crackdown on the sect members intensified.
The security officers also recovered swords and paraphernalia associated with the sect in Elburgon town.
Molo deputy police boss, Mr Peter Katam said the suspects were ambushed in the middle of a meeting on Tuesday evening.
"We got a tip-off from members of the public that Mungiki were meeting and our officers rushed to the scene", he said.
The 12 who are being held at Elburgon police station will be arraigned in court when investigations are completed.