A group of Christian religious leaders, including John Cardinal Njue, on Thursday told the government to hold talks with the outlawed Mungiki sect.

Clergy from the Catholic church, Anglican church of Kenya and Presbyterian Church of East Africa, said the sect had organised groupings within it that should be dealt with.

The leaders said the Mungiki issue could not be wished away since it was deeply rooted in the society and talks were the only way out.

National healing

In a joint statement, they urged the government to approach the sect leaders for talks in the spirit of national healing.

The statement issued at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi was signed by Archbishop John Cardinal Njue, Mombasa Bishop John Njenga and Nairobi Auxiliary bishop David Ng'ang'a on behalf of the Catholic Church.

The PCEA signatories were Rev Simon Githinji, Kasarani Moderator and the church's Secretary-General Rev Samuel Muriguh. Bishops Gideon Githiga of Thika diocese and Timothy Ranji of Mount Kenya South diocese signed on behalf of ACK.

The document highlights at least four categories in which the church leaders say the Mungiki sect is organised and gives recommendations that the country can employ in dealing with the sect.

In their document, the clergy have described Mungiki as youths who are energetic, averagely educated but jobless and living in absolute poverty.

They leaders blame politicians for using the sect members during their campaigns only to dispense them, leading to frustrations within this group.

"The viable solution is to talk with them," the church leaders say.

And, in an unprecedented move, they have called for the release of jailed Mungiki leader Maina Njenga if his jail term can attract bail, arguing that his freedom would be of help in the dialogue process.

The church leaders said the issue of Mungiki arose from unemployment among the youths which they asked the government to address urgently.

Involvement

"We need to come up with clear policy for the youth in Kenya considering all their categories and social groupings, which will impart on their social, political, economic and religious welfare," they say.

The clergymen blame the deaths of some of the Mungiki leaders to political involvement of the sect members in last year's General Election.

Various groups and individuals including Prime Minister Raila Odinga have expressed the need for the government to talk with Mungiki as a way of sorting out their issues. The calls have also been made by some politicians some of who are current MPs especially from central Kenya.

Mungiki sect leader, Mr Njenga, earlier his week spoke from prison, calling on sect members to give dialogue a chance.

But Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe have vowed severally to deal with Mungiki as criminals.