Mungiki Boss Seized in Highway Ambush

Mungiki leader Ndura Waruinge in a Nairobi court yesterday. The magistrate said he would hear the charges against Mr Waruinge today.

Mungiki leader Ndura Waruinge was finally arrested and taken to court yesterday.

The outspoken sect boss, who has been hiding since January, fell into a police dragnet in the city centre on Tuesday.

He was rushed to the Nairobi law courts but was not charged. Officials said he will appear again in court this morning.

Mr Waruinge told the Nation that he drove into a CID trap on Ngong road on his way from his home.

"I was driving to the city in the evening when the officers intercepted me in three vehicles," he told journalists. After blocking Mr Waruinge's car, the officers took him to CID headquarters, where he was held until being taken to court.

Yesterday Mr Waruinge was escorted to court by three plain clothes policemen.

Wearing in a navy blue suit, a light blue shirt, a red tie and brown shoes, he walked into the Chief Magistrates court at exactly 3.15pm.

The courtroom was virtually empty as Chief Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule had concluded the day's proceedings about 15 minutes earlier.

Wananchi only noticed Mr Waruinge's presence because of the journalists following him.

He sat in the dock, looking composed and chatted incessantly with his lawyer, Mr Kanyiri Muriuki, and even made calls on his mobile phone.

Mr Waruinge said police had not disclosed the charges awaiting him.

After15 minutes, Mr Muchelule sent a message that he would hear the charges against Mr Waruinge this morning. Police then drove him away.

The government announced a crackdown on all Mungiki leaders and associates, following the January 5 brutal murder of at least 20 people by Nakuru sect members.

National security minister Chris Murungaru ordered police to shoot any member of the sect on sight.

But on January 14, Mr Waruinge spoke to the Nation while in hiding, daring police to execute the shoot-on-sight orders and warning that sect members would retaliate.

A week later, Mr Waruinge escaped arrest at Makuyu in Maragua District when detectives raided the home of his father in-law, Mr John Wanyoike in Mihang'o village.

Mr Waruinge jumped over a stone wall. His wife Muthoni, Mr Wanyoike and a relative, Mr Anthony Mwangi, were arrested. Muthoni has since been charged in a Murang'a court.

The crackdown was intensified in February when a police officer was murdered by members of the sect in Dandora, Nairobi and at least three others injured in the attacks.

Mungiki leaders have also been linked to a scandal involving 10 Army Land Rovers said to have been acquired by the sect for the election campaigns.