Maina Njenga Condemns Arrest Of Suspected Mungiki Members, Insists They’re Innocent
Ex-leader of the Mungiki group, Maina Njenga, has criticized the government for allegedly targeting and apprehending Kikuyu youngsters without cause. These youths were said to have been present at a gathering organized by a faction of leaders from the Mt. Kenya region in Kabiru-Ini, Nyeri County.
Njenga stated that there wasn’t a planned meeting because no public notice had been given, and the detained young individuals were simply going about their usual activities, getting ready for the New Year.
Njenga openly accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of engaging in a political witch hunt, alleging that it was adversely affecting innocent young people.
“It bothers me that a Kikuyu leader is using the State machinery to criminalize the same people who supported him during the 2022 general election. By labeling our innocent youths as members of Mungiki, Mr Rigathi is not only setting them up against the notorious police brutality, but he is also setting up the entire community for extinction,” he said.
“When did the jobless, hopeless, and disgruntled hustlers become Mungiki? Kweli asante ya punda ni mateke. Let the regime of the day stop, cease criminalizing innocent Kikuyu youths, and embark on addressing the underlying problem of the skyrocketing cost of living.”
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He’s insisted that the government cease its practice of treating Kikuyu youth as criminals and focus on tackling the steep rise in the cost of living.
“We urge the police or those who have arrested innocent youths to release them immediately. If the arrested youths will not be released on bail or bond by the police pending their arraignment in court, we urge the state to observe the 24-hour rule,” he said.
Around 200 people were detained in Nyeri town and the surrounding areas during an operation targeting followers of the ex-leader of the Mungiki group on Sunday.
The activity occurred after Nyeri County Police Commissioner Pius Murugu prohibited a scheduled gathering, planned to be attended by certain Mt. Kenya leaders at Kabiru-ini grounds, citing its illegality.
A group of security personnel positioned along the Nyeri – Nairobi, Nyeri – Nyahururu, and Nyeri – Nanyuki roads set up checkpoints to block Njenga’s followers from participating in the scheduled gathering at the venue.
Maina Njenga Condemns Arrest Of Suspected Mungiki Members, Insists They’re Innocent
