Commuter taxi (matatu) crews on a city route yesterday boycotted operations to protest against harassment by Mungiki members.
The more than 50 route 18 public transporters accused the police of conniving with the illegal sect members to extort money from vehicles plying the Kayole-Gikomba route.
They claimed the gang used violence to force operators to pay the money.
"They have set up at least four 'toll stations' where each matatu is required to pay Sh200 daily in addition to Sh50 per trip," the route's spokesman, Mr Silas Rachuonyo, said.
Mr Rachuonyo claimed the police had failed to intervene despite numerous complaints from operators.
The owners, drivers and touts dismissed the Government's tough talk on the sect, saying known followers of the sect operated freely in the area with full knowledge of the police.
They said last week's directive by the provincial administration outlawing illegal groups from city routes had no effect as Mungiki members continued to control their route.
A driver, Mr Christopher Odieki, who spotted a bandaged face, claimed to have been assaulted by known Mungiki members demanding a "Valentine contribution" on Friday.
The operators claimed police in vehicle registration number A 409E visited three Mungiki goons daily to pick the day's "share" of collections.
They vowed not resume service until their complaints were addressed by the provincial traffic boss.
He claimed to have reported the matter to Buru Buru police division where officers told him to "go home and recover first."
The operators called on massive transfer of officers in the division claiming many were known to fraternise with Mungiki followers.
The police released alleged leaders of the gang without preferring charges every time operators and residents forced an arrest, the operators claimed.
"Since the officers in BuruBuru have been releasing suspects citing 'orders from above', we also need to talk to a higher authority and hopefully get a higher solution to our problem," driver Joshua Owaga said.