Kenya Gov't Linked to Militia

Kenya's government might have played a direct role in sanctioning recent ethnic violence. A source tells the BBC that senior officials met with the violent Mungiki militia, with the aim of recruiting the outlawed group as a "defense force" to help protect the ethnic Kikuyu population. In January, Mungiki thugs allegedly used machetes to attack non-Kikuyu in the Rift Valley.

The government denies the allegation, the BBC reports. "No such meetings took place at … any government office," says a spokesman, who also claims that the government took steps to stop the gang from making attacks. "The government stamped on them immediately," he said. A power-sharing deal was reached last week, and Kenya's parliament is set to reconvene tomorrow. (More Mungiki stories.)