Nominated Internal Security CS Dr Fred Matiang'i in a past even. The CS this week outlawed The National Resistance Movement (NRM). [Photo/Nation]
In October last year nominated Internal Security CS Fred Matiang'i was caught on tape threatening to unleash the Chinkororo militia, a group listed with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) amongst outlawed groups in the country.
NRM entered the list of banned groups after Dr Matiang'i outlawed it yesterday through a Kenya Gazette notice.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 of the Act, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government declares National Resistance Movement (NRM) to be organised criminal group for the purpose of the Act," read the notice dated January, 30.
Amachuma and Sungu Sungu are associated with the Abagusii community while Chinkororo is associated with Abakuria and the Abagusii.
Amachuma, when translated to English, means 'a piece of metal' as described by the National intelligence and it was first outlawed in March 2002.
This is after a clash took place between the Mungiki and Taliban vigilantes also outlawed groups in Kariobangi estate, Nairobi.
Amachuma hail from Kisii County and according to Kisii residents they are bodyguards to politicians who help them guard their interests.
"They are the people who guard politicians whenever they are around and you have to talk to them well before you can have time to share with the politician," said James Mbaka a local.
He said that members of the group are even more lethal whenever their leader is being attacked.
Chinkororo which is also associated with the Abagusii had the role of protecting the community from hostile neighbors mainly the Kipsigis and the Maasai's.
They were first outlawed by Mr Julius Sinkuli who was the minister of State in the office of the President.
This is after opposing groups crashed during a by-election held in March 2002 following the death of its MP Enock Magara.
According to Mr Sunkuli, the group was becoming a gun for hire as politicians used them to unleash terror on their political operations.
For Sungu Sungu locals are not so sure whether to love or hate it's its members who conduct arrests and even pass judgment in the Kangaroo courts located in almost every part of the county.
Gilbert Kombo, a local who lives in Kisii town said that when the group started there was a reduction in crime-related cases.
He fully supported the idea of starting the group but now wonders what it's real activities are.
"When they started they even helped in identifying criminals very first and taking action against them but these days they go with those who have money," Mr Kombo said.
For the last six years, the group operates under the title 'community policing group' and is being accused of even killing suspects.
The Kenya National Commision on Human Rights (KNHRC) in 2011 in a report termed the group as the merchants of Terror and Death in the county.
It said that they had over-stepped their mandate of community policing.
This is said was because locals accused the group of beating and injuring suspects.
KNHRC further called for the restructuring of various community policing groups in the region.
Kisii County police commander Hassan Abdi on Wednesday maintained that all the three groups were outlawed and action would be taken against anyone associated to any of them.
"The groups remain outlawed if a citizen has a complaint against them they should report to the police immediately," he said.