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Those who enter this forest will be lucky to emerge alive
By James Munyeki
It was in the news in the late nineties for habouring one of Kenyas most wanted criminals, the late Bernard Matheri alias Rasta.
Now Ndaragwa Forest in Nyandarua District is back in the limelight, with the dubious distinction of being one of the most dangerous places in Kenya. Police have singled out Ndaragwa Forest as a hiding place for most criminals within and outside Nyandarua region.
Situated 30km from Nyahururu town and adjacent to the Aberdares range, Ndaragwa Forest looks deceptively calm from afar, covered with indigenous trees and lush grass thickets. But it is here that all sorts of crimes, ranging from robbery, suicide, carjackings and rape occur. Police suspect a resurgence of Mungiki gangs who hide in the forest is related to the rise in violent crime here.
Travelling at night along the forest from either Nyeri or Nyahururu town has become a hair raising nightmare lately. Matatu operators have resorted to closing business at dusk to avoid being attacked.
"We cannot risk travelling at night, as the area around this forest is a dangerous zone. Carjackers rob you then disappear into the thick forest," said a local matatu association official. Nyandarua North District residents are appalled by the high incidence of crime along the Ndaragwa-Pesi road, which cuts across the forest.
A few kilometres from the main road is a hill that has now been renamed Kona Mbaya, meaning dangerous corner.
Private Vehicles
In the past two months alone, three people have been murdered, more than ten matatus and private vehicles carjacked and passengers robbed and brutalised. Several missing people may have been killed in the forest. Human rights activist and Nominated councillor Esther Njogu said construction workers recently found a pile of women s underwear at a spot where rape attacks are suspected to be carried out.
In the latest incident, a woman aged 48 was murdered in broad daylight last week. The body of Marion Wagaki was found dumped at the edge of the forest with deep cuts the forehead. According to her close relatives, the post-mortem report indicated she had been raped and then stabbed with a sharp object on the forehead.
The victim, Marion Wagaki. [PHOTO: JAMES MUNYEKI/STANDARD]
Pesi residents no longer venture out of their houses in the evenings.
"We would rather stay indoors or travel in a groups rather than walk down the forest to the trading centre," said Mrs Judy Gathoni. Gathoni said the shocking murder occurred barely a week after two women were attacked and raped at the same spot. Wagaki had attended a womens function when she was attacked at around midday. Her body was found the following day when residents mounted a search for her after she failed to return home.
Leaders Concerned
Local leaders have repeatedly expressed concern on the safety of residents.
"We cannot bear it any more, people are attacked every week and yet the police have not taken any action. We are tired of this insecurity," said Njogu.
She said this revealed what women travelling through the forest went through.
"Women are being raped and defiled yet these thugs keep operating as if there are no security forces in this country," she said. Njogu said at least 100 underpants had been recovered during the search, adding women in the area had since stopped fetching firewood in the forest for fear of attack.
The activist regretted that most of the victims did not report the cases to the police. They had no hope anything would be done.
She said those who had gone through such terror had been traumatised and feared being discriminated by residents. "We encourage them to report even if it is for the record. We should not just keep quiet while we undergo such attacks," she said.
Nyandarua North DC Hassan Farah said security personnel had been deployed to the forest to hunt down the gangsters. In a statement read on his behalf by Nyandarua North Administration Police Commandant Robert Mulwa during Wagakis burial, Mr Farah regretted such incidents were on the rise. "We will do everything possible to protect the lives and property of every Kenyan," the statement read.
He said Administration Police and Kenya Wildlife Service officers have been deployed to the forest.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni said the Constituency Development Fund committee had set aside money to build a police post along the dangerous road. The MP said the 20km road through the forest had been murramed to cover potholes that have been slowing down motorists. "We want such acts to end once and for all and that is why we have taken these measures," he told The Standard.