Police warn of new Mungiki violence plot
Photo | FILE Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga waves to youth in Limuru, March 23, 2012.
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, June 3 2012 at 22:30
Posted Sunday, June 3 2012 at 22:30
Police have been put on high alert following intelligence reports that the outlawed Mungiki sect has re-grouped and is planning a series of violent activities.
A dispatch from police headquarters to provincial commanders warns that the group has appointed new coordinators and wants to revamp a squad blamed for numerous killings before police crushed it in 2007.
However, the leader of the proscribed sect, Mr Maina Njenga, insists that he is a changed man, a born again Christian, and has led thousands of followers to his Hope International Church. (READ: Why Njenga’s transformation from Mungiki is not convincing)
The communication seen by the Nationidentifies the Mungiki unit as “Chapa Squad” and names a man from Nakuru who has been appointed its leader.
“The squad has been tasked to revive its roles and collect information that will assist in the operations of the sect,” reads part of the dispatch.
According to Mr Njenga’s lawyer, former Kikuyu MP Paul Muite, it is not Mungiki re-grouping or planning any violence, but the police preparing the ground for a fresh round of illegal executions.
Mr Muite said although he was not a Mungiki member, there was no truth in the reorganisation claim saying that they were not meeting as Mungiki but a church.
“There is a political agenda behind this and we want to know who is driving it,” he said.
Mr Njenga has recently been active politically touting himself as Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s rival for Central Kenya leadership.
The intelligence document titled “Situational Report” and marked “Secret,” shows a revamped Mungiki with a council of elders at the top of the hierarchy, only second to Mr Njenga, its former leader who now distances himself from the group.
The council is christened “Wazebu” with a national chairman and a vice chairman. It identifies a man from Nakuru and another from Kiambu, as the respective holders of two positions.
Officials appointed include a national coordinator and deputy, both from Nairobi.
The document, is signed by Mr Francis Okonya who is the principal deputy to Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere. It says the revamped Mungiki will target Nairobi, Central and parts of the Rift Valley province.
The document also claims that as part of its political strategy, the group has identified a political party. Last week, the group held a meeting and promised to launch its party on Saturday.
The Nation has learnt that the party to be launched is the Mkenya Solidarity Movement party led by veteran politician G G Kariuki.
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