During retired President Mwai Kibaki’s first term, Mungiki, which began as a quasi-religious sect in the 1990s, turned into the country’s biggest, most ruthless mafia.
Between 2006 and 2007, a series of beheadings, mutilations and murders of policemen and government officials became a norm, courtesy of the dreaded criminal organisation.
Kibaki’s tough-talking internal security minister, John Michuki, promised to wipe the gang out.
Michuki relentlessly hunted down and ordered members of the proscribed group killed to a point the international community put Kibaki’s government on spot over extra-judicial killings and forced disappearance.
As all this was happening, Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was no where to be seen. Police looked for him day and night without success.
Now, Kenya Cultural Centre Council board chairman Kung’u Muigai, has come out to reveal where Maina was hiding as members of his sect were being crushed by Michuki.
In a recent interview, he disclosed that the family of Kenya’s founding President provided hideout for Maina and even hired lawyers to represent him when he was arrested in 2007.
“When the crackdown on the Mungiki gang started in the Central region, we provided hideouts for their leader, Maina Njenga, and his followers in our vast lands and also recruited lawyers to defend them,” said Muigai who is former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first cousin.
The patron of the Kiama Kia Ma Council of Elders confessed to have been a founding member of Mungiki but cut ties with the group after it started engaging in criminal activities.
“When this sect was formed, I was in the midst of their teachingsā¦ The founders who were Mr Njenga and Ndura Waruinge came to the council of elders and explained their vision of Mungiki and we agreed with them,” he said.
Muigai warned Maina against regrouping the sect saying Kikuyu elders will support any government action that will be taken against him and his members.
“The elders told me to find Mr Njenga and warn him to stop his new plan on Mungikiā¦ We have washed our hands of him because what he is doing to our children is not right and we will allow the government to crush his members,” Muigai said.
by: MartinMurigi