Many dead in central Kenya clashes

At least 24 people have been killed in central Kenya in clashes between villagers and members of the Mungiki sect.Charles Owino, the deputy police spokesman, said on Tuesday that the deaths occurred overnight when villagers near the  town of Karatina took on members of the sect saying they had been extorting money from them."The majority of the dead are Mungiki members," he said.Eric Kiraithe, a police spokesman, said that three people had been left seriously injured and that police had arrested 37 people. They also seized machetes, axes and clubs from suspects."A total of 24 people are dead as we speak but we are not able to tell who is Mungiki and who is not," Kiraithe said.