Police say 24 killed in central Kenya

A police spokesman says 24 people have been killed in violence overnight between residents of a central Kenya town and members of a banned sect.

A police spokesman says 24 people have been killed in violence overnight between residents of a central Kenya town and members of a banned sect.

HT Image

Deputy Police spokesman Charles Owino says residents of Karatina town have been fighting members of the banned Mungiki sect because they have been extorting money from local residents. Owino says that most of those killed were Mungiki members. The government banned Mungiki in 2002 but the gang has continued to operate, extorting money from owners of minibus taxis and other public transport vehicles. The group is known for beheading some of its victims.