Mungiki is back with a vengeance in Central Kenya’s politics and leaders in the region are running scared.
Many who had relied on the banned sect to secure votes in the past are now a worried lot. However, the net extends to political leaders who are being coerced into backing a particular political leader.
Former Mungiki chairman Maina Njenga has already fallen out with most politicians within the region and is seen as providing a stiff competition to the local leadership.
Njenga has been pushing for a different agenda after he was denied a chance to address a Gema meeting in Limuru that was attended by leaders from the region.
He tried to hold another meetingdubbed Limuru 2B at the same venue but police tear gassed the participants.
But what worries many is that the group, associated with gruesome killings and extortion in the recent past, is now working for certain political interests.
Intelligence reports indicate that the sect is regrouping and planning to sabotage political activities of some leaders in Central Kenya.
The revelations have sent panic among politicians in the region who are demanding immediate action by police to clamp down on the group that is feared for its macabre killings.
Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri who was allegedly mentioned in the report as a target of the group, said he would not be intimidated into abandoning his political ambitions.
It is instructive that Kiunjuri, who was all along perceived to be charting his own political path under the Grand National Union (GNU) party was present at last weekend’s launch of The National Alliance in Nairobi by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. His presence raised eyebrows as to whether he had abandoned his earlier stance.
Kieni MP Nemesyus Warugongo also demanded immediate action from the police now that the lid has been lifted on the intentions of the sect members.
The panic hitting politicians in the region indicates that a frosty relationship between the leaders and the youth is in the offing as the election mood grips the country.
Kenyatta, who is viewed as the de facto leader of the region and its preferred presidential flag bearer, has also been named in the intelligence report as a target of the illegal group.
This has angered the local politicians, who want the police to nip in the bud the activities of the sect before the country goes into the electioneering. “This is very disturbing information, which police should not take lightly. Its members forms a critical component of the voters which we cannot wish away but we must not allow them to go overboard,” said a politician eyeing a seat in Murang’a County.
serious claims
The politician, who declined to be named for fear of being a target of the group, said it would be naïve for politicians to deny that the members of the group are not usually among their supporters.
“It is something we cannot run away from. What we do not condone is their violent nature, which police should deal with,” said the politician.
An angry Kiunjuri on Thursday demanded that the Government crushes the group now that it has information about its dirty intentions.
He distanced himself from the group saying its members have never supported his political activities in Laikipia.
Speaking to The Standard, Kiunjuri said the onus was on police to investigate the serious claims that there was a plot to disrupt his rallies in Nanyuki.
“This report is very disturbing, there is no time I have associated myself with Mungiki and saying that I have lost their support is very ridiculous,” said Kiunjuri. Kiunjuri who is aspiring for the Laikipia governorship said he was not interested in the votes of the sect members.
“Having been in politics for a long time, if it will take the Mungiki vote for me to get any political seat, then it is better I miss the seat,” said Kiunjuri.
disrupt event
He added: “Police should give us adequate security now that they are in possession of the information what these people want to do. But I can assure them I will not be intimidated.”
He said police should ensure that all Kenyans have the freedom of association and speech as enshrined in the constitution.
Kiunjuri, who is also the Laikipia East MP, was reacting to an exclusive story by The Standard on Wednesday revealing that intelligence reports indicated that Mungiki had been revamped. The report indicated that the sect had formed a disciplinary ‘hit squad’ nicknamed “Chapa Squad’ in some parts of Rift Valley and Central.
It also claimed that intelligence indicated that followers of the sect had been directed to disrupt all political meetings by Uhuru.
“The sect members within Nanyuki are also planning to disrupt political rallies organised by Mwangi Kiunjuri within Laikipia for allegedly abandoning them,” the report stated.
In his reaction, Kiunjuri said that it was unfortunate that police knew the identity of the Mungiki members but would not arrest them. “These people are known. I hear 14 of them attempted to disrupt a function attended by soccer Star Samuel Eto’o, but nothing happened to them,” said Kiunjuri.
Warugongo said the Government should beef up security in all political meetings to ensure that peace prevails.
“I don’t know why they want to disrupt political meetings and yet they have no been forced to support a particular candidate. If they have their own candidate let them support him,” said the MP.
Security officials in the region remained tight-lipped over the resurgence of the Mungiki with Central Provincial Police boss John M’Mbijjiwe declining to comment on the issue
No comments:
Post a Comment