Musumbiji gang; where it operates; segments of society gang members target; whether police or other state officials are known to support the activities of the gang [KEN40340.E]

Two references to the Musumbiji gang were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate (Daily Nation 17 Oct. 1997; ibid. 31 Oct. 1998).

In a parliamentary debate on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, the Daily Nation reported that MP Martin Shikuku said he would "organise the infamous Musumbiji gang, to 'hunt and kill sons and daughters of politicians such as Mr. Raila Odinga and Mr. Paul Muite who think we can stand and watch as they lure our children to the streets using money, drugs and alcohol in the name of pressuring for reforms instead of using the floor of this House'" (17 Oct. 1997).

A second reference to the Musumbiji gang was found in a 31 October 1998 Daily Nation article by the Akiwumi Commission, which was established in 1998 by President Daniel Arap Moi to investigate ethnic violence in Kenya since 1991 (AI n.d.). According to the article, one of the witnesses quoted Mr. Burudi Nabwera, a former MP and one-time cabinet minister who is now a member of FORD [Forum for the Restoration of Democracy] Kenya (Daily Nation 12 Mar. 2002), as saying "[i]n Kakamega, the Musumbiji gang would deal with Shikuku" (ibid. 17 Oct. 1997). The town of Kakamega is in the Lake Victoria region, located approximately 50 kilometres north of Kisumu (Go2Africa.com n.d.).

In addition, the Executive Officer of Youth Agenda (YAA), a Nairobi-based Kenyan youth initiative that promotes youth involvement in government processes (26 Nov. 2002), provided the following information on the Angola-Msumbiji:

Angola-Msumbiji was formed in the 70s as a criminal gang, by young people mainly from Bunyore, Kisa, Marama, Idakho, Isukha, Butsotso, and Wanga communities in Vihiga and Kakamega districts [of Kenya]. They came together to mainly have a strong gang that would target business people with impunity. They would warn their would-be victims of their intended raid [that] would subsequently be executed without fail and with ruthlessness, especially if the victims had shown signs of resistance. They would go to the extent of seriously maiming people with machetes in the course of their well-calculated incursions.
In the late 70s and 80s, politicians from the western province succumbed to the temptation of using the well-organized goons to unleash terror on their opponents. The gangs would carry out the job according to the "contract" for a fee. They slowly became thugs-for-hire and they would be at the service of the politician who would pay them a good amount to do anything - literally.
Later the local business people and politicians found other uses for them. They would be used to repulse the Kalenjin warriors who would attack the Luhyas during an outbreak of ethnic clashes in the 80's. Both sides suffered heavy casualties as a result of the fierce clashes.
Activities started dying out in the late 80s and early 90s mainly due to police crackdown of the militia group and reluctance of the young people to be conscripted into the gang. At around the same time, some copycat ragtag gangs of thieves managed to create confusion about the real identity of the original group, which demystified them. In peoples' minds the group had disintegrated and a few managed to resist blackmail successfully.
[Until] now, the name "Angola-Msumbiji" is still in use but by a few thugs who still engage in robbing people in the area, albeit in a much lower scale. Some of them are mere petty thieves who just steal to get basic needs (2 Dec. 2002).

For additional information on Youth Agenda, please consult KEN39747.E of 22 November 2002.

Additional information regarding the Musumbiji gang could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Amnesty International (AI). n.d. "Kenya: Political Violence: Beating a Path to Election Victory." http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/content.nsf/pages/gbr_kenya [Accessed 28 Nov. 2002]

Daily Nation. 12 March 2002. Tim Wanyonyi. "An Uphill Task for Jirongo." http://www.nationaudio.com/elections/constituencyreviews/story12.htm [Accessed 28 Nov. 2002]

_____. 31 October 1998. Watoro Kamau. "10 Ministers Face Clashes Probe; Journalists Required to Appear Before Commission." http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/1998/311098/News/News10.html [Accessed 28 Nov. 2002]

_____. 17 October 1997. Emman Omari and Kipkoech Tanui. "Debate on Constitution Continues." http://www.africaonline.co.ke/AfricaOnline/nation/971017/hl/3.html [Accessed 12 Nov. 2002]

Go2Africa.com. n.d. "Kakamega." http://www.go2africa.com/Kenya/lake-victoria/kakamega/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2002]

Youth Agenda (YAA). 2 December 2002. Correspondence from Executive Officer.

_____. 26 November 2002. Correspondence from Executive Officer.

Additional Sources Consulted


Africa Research Bulletin

IRB Databases

Europa World Factbook (1999-2002)

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.

One oral source was unable to provide information on the above-mentioned topic.

Internet sites, including:

Africa Confidential

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

BBC Africa

Behind the Mask

The Daily Nation

East African Standard

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

International Lesbian and Gay Association (IGLA)

World News.com

World News Connection (WNC)

Search engine:

Google