Kenya's urban battlefield

The area in and around the Kenyan capital Nairobi has been shaken by a series of violent attacks, apparently by a banned sect called the Mungiki, and the aggressive police response to the group's activities.

Authorities have vowed to wipe out the group, which is suspected of committing more than 30 murders since March. Gruesome finds include beheaded and mutilated bodies. However the heavy-handed police response has also come under the spotlight and has added to the climate of fear among the affected population.

The Mungiki, which means the masses, first came to public attention in the 1980s, when members could be identified by their dreadlocks and a semi-religious appreciation of Mount Kenya.

Although much mystery still surrounds its formation, the group was believed to have been inspired by the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule in the 1950s and, like the Mau Mau, supporters are believed to be predominantly from the Kikuyu ethnic group. They claimed to be struggling for traditional values, which included such practices as female circumcision, although Mungiki activities became increasingly criminal.

Tough police tactics have drawn some local and international criticism, including from human rights groups. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights condemned the police operations as a "brutal and arbitrary response", with a spokesperson of the group adding: "Stop arbitrary killings of Mungiki suspects by the police and concentrate on intelligence gathering, arrests and prosecution". In the wake of the police operations, the Mungiki sect promised to turn its attentions towards the security services.

FORECAST

Crime, particularly violent crime, is a serious concern in Kenya. Tensions are likely to rise in the run-up to the election, so it seems likely that Mungiki activities will remain in the headlines with or without any connection between the group and political forces. Much will depend on the government's willingness to pursue the struggle against a group that is perceived to be a threat to national stability. 312 of 876 words