Police arrest 24 members of suspected unregistered sect in Juja, Kiambu

Police in Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County, arrested 24 people following an operation targeting a suspected unregistered religious sect operating within the area.

According to a police report from Abba-Salama Police Post under Juja Farm Police Station, the operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon after officials alerted authorities about the presence of the group.

National Police Service (NPS) officers moved to the location at around 2:00 pm and arrested the suspected sect leader, identified as 56-year-old Robert Mburu. Fifteen men and eight women who were found at the shrine were also apprehended during the operation.

Police said several items believed to be associated with the sect’s activities were recovered at the scene.
These included cowrie shells, horns, a small sisal basket allegedly used during the group’s rituals, and other paraphernalia.
Officers also seized about eight litres of a liquid suspected to be muratina, a traditional alcoholic brew.

The scene was documented by officers from the Scenes of Crime unit based in Thika.

All the suspects were later escorted to Kibii Police Station where they are being held as police process their case ahead of their arraignment at the Thika Law Courts on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Authorities said the situation briefly became tense as some of the suspects turned rowdy and began singing traditional war songs during the arrest. Police added that a detailed progress report containing the full identities of the suspects will be released once processing is complete.