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The Mungiki movement first reared its' ugly head in 2000.
The timing speaks volumes. President Daniel Arap Moi was serving his last three years in office and was expected to hand over power to a new president in 2002. It was a time of great uncertainty and fear in the country because Kenya the coming scenario was unprecedented. There had never been a situation before where the all-powerful president of Kenya had handed over power. Many believed that Moi would come
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Also published today
Why Mungiki is the hungry lion somebody forgot to feed
Quip of the day
Democracy don't rule the world, You'd better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that's better left unsaid.
Bob Dylan (American folksinger, b.1941)
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up with some excuse to extend his presidency. And even if he did hand over power it looked like the results would still be chaos because the opposition had never managed to agree on a single presidential candidate. It was much more unlikely that they would do this, this time round when Moi was clearly not going to be a candidate.
The first thing that Kenyans noticed was that the Mungiki sect seemed to be untouchable. It was clear that they had very powerful backing because even the police seemed to fear to take any action.
In one of the rare peaceful demonstrations that the sect has had, which took place sometime in 2002, the group declared support for Uhuru Kenyatta as a presidential candidate. Uhuru hurriedly issued a statement distancing himself from the group.
Political analysts theorized that the group had been formed as a private army to take care of certain powerful interests in the country. But one thing everybody was sure of was that Mungiki had the backing of the government. This was further confirmed in 2003 when it emerged that members of Mungiki had obtained military land rovers fully armed and with sophisticated communication equipment for use during the 2002 campaign period. It was clear such a move would have required clearance from the very top. Not even a cabinet minister would have had the authority to allow for such a dangerous stunt.
But what were the objectives of the sect? This is the part of the whole Mungiki mystery that has puzzled analysts for a long time. However it was clear that inspiration for the movement came from a snuff-taking religious/political movement that had been formed in 1992 called the Tent of the Living God whose objective was to take back members of the Kikuyu tribe to traditional worship practices. Some shrewd Kanu hawk had no doubt seen the usefulness of such a group in helping fulfill selfish political ends.
There are those who speculate that the intention of the Moi government was to divide the Kikuyus and ensure that unity became more and more difficult to achieve. Those who in this school of thought point to the preoccupation the Moi administration always had in "dealing with the Kikuyu" whom they always saw as a serious threat to the Moi presidency. They also point to the fact that the Mau Mau movement in the 50s that has uncanny similarities with Mungiki (including the appetite that has been displayed in recent times of beheading people) failed because it divided the Kikuyu community right down the middle. Moderates felt that the group was too radical to achieve much while long suffering realists saw the need to use violence if only to get powerful forces in London to start paying attention to the Kenyan situation. Then there was the fact that the Mau Mau never fought for Kenyan independence but were in fact a land freedom army. Their intention was to have the prime land grabbed from then by the colonial administration, returned.
Without any fear of contradictions I dare say that Mungiki is the monster we latently reared and is now claiming its pound of flesh. That said this orgy of beheading and ogre of Mungiki must be stopped at whatever expense.
ReplyDeleteNo tribal apologies, Moi weaned and Kibaki seems oblivious of the devil incarnate. We can't be so naive as to use the prevailing economic hardships (more than 60%) to justify murder. Some parts of Kenya are real deserts and the skeletal frames that answer to people there don't butcher each other.
You can't put any informed spin to this menace and pretending to do so is fuel the present haemorrhage. There is lots of political undercurrents in the whole thing but it beast me why one would be so heartless to hack decapitate a neighbour. The latent support Mungiki has from some MPs and ministers is a clear sign that all is nearly lost and we are headed into real troubles times.
When Saboats fight its tribal/land clashes when these chaps butcher other fellow Kenyans we are told its criminals. This doublespeak must be stopped lest we auction our souls and country to the devil.
Why would be be sending army abroad while we are aflame internally? All the outside glory is sheer folly and cheap pride. We need a comprehensive reaction to exterminate these evil forces amidst us. No sweet nothings in negotiating with murderers will wash. The police can do it if there was political will but having seen them standing by as Mungiki demonstrated the other day, you guess right, the inferno goes on. God save Kenya.
Mungiki is the pet viper/cobra (or some other type of snake) that was never supposed to grow up. I’m surprised none of you have called a spade a spade. Mungiki is the proud product of the Kikuyu people who, apparently, have been suffering from a superiority complex since colonial times. Don’t lynch me yet, let alone chop my head off. Let’s just say it as it is. We all know that 99.99% of our Kikuyu brethren deeply feel they deserve a lager stake of Kenya in lieu of the Mau Mau struggle. The pillars of the house of Mumbi support a people who will forever feel deprived of their rightful place as the kings and queens of Kenya. It is these types of sentiments that have created a people that cannot accept leadership from anyone other than themselves. The verbage “the presidency should never leave the castle of Mumbi” is not a simple statement. In fact, it is a carefully synchronized and elaborate plan that has sprouted Mungiki and the mayhem it delivers. You all recall the proud moments of the Tent of the living god and the quest to return to life as told in Kikuyu fables. Well, the off shoot, Mungiku, is creatively determined to rejuvenate and invigorate, albeit by force, the feelings of primacy in every living Kikuyu man and woman. And believe me it’s working like magic. Even here in the USA, exists adherents of this bunch of blood letting thugs.
ReplyDeleteI find it extremely offensive when some characters (not naming names) appear to absolve Mungiki activities by labeling them good and well mannered young men and women who are really and truly victims of unemployment, land clashes, do not live and Runda/Karen and cannot fly to Paris. Well guess what, IT’S THE STATE OF ALL KENYANS, TRIBE ASIDE!! Why is it that it is only the Kikuyu who constantly feel aggrieved by the ills of a capitalistic society? Some knuckle heads (not naming names again) even suggest a sit-down to discuss and appease the wounds of these violent but ‘peace loving citizens’. Are the rest of Kenyans blind? Can’t you see whose funding and supporting these chimps? Is it not clear that the impotent Kibaki government will never give it to Mungiki in the ass? Are you really expecting Michuki to “deal” with the problem? Is Mungiki just a diversion as state corporations are landing in the thieving hands of the Kiambu mafia? First come tribal appointments, then chopped heads. That’s the agenda.
Oh, and by the way, whereas Mungiki is an aggressor, groups like the Taliban etc are sentinels (this just to tick you off).
Without Mau Mau, Kenya would still attain “independence”…..meaning the wind of change. It was suddenly unfashionable to maintain colonies. That being said, the Mau Mau land fight, though it didn’t achieve much, created headaches for the queen. If anything it showed that Africans can and will fight for their freedom. Not to demean the heroism of Dedan Kimathi, but putting up a statue in the middle of the city further fuels the fire that is Mungiki. In a country of over forty tribes, the statue and recognition that Mau Mau has received in the past few years serves as a constant reminder of who fought for you, whom you should worship and who should rule you.
ReplyDeleteThis Kikuyu superiority complex is what is always camouphlaged in bashing Luos. Not any more because Kenyans will soon see the facade that the propaganda is. Luos are no doormats for to clean all you bloodied hands. If only ODM were politically smart then this Mungiki thing should have been the last nail to drive this Kikuyu dominance to the grave. I am not a Luo but give it to Jangos their pride is schooled, polished, harmless and above all they FEAR spilling blood at the drop of a kobole (no stereotypes you faulmouthed and multi-coloured teethed).
ReplyDeleteThere is a false premise that without the Mau Mau Kenya would not have attained independence.
ReplyDeleteI did a report on British decolonisation last year and I can assure you that if you investigated British policy papers,speeches from British politicians,articles in the press and general public sentiment in Britain at the time leading to Kenyan independence; you will discover that the British pulled out because of the economic strain of maintaining Kenya as part of its empire and because of overwhelming pressure from the US who were against the idea of colonialism.
The British could have continued fighting the Mau Mau and were at the time even succeeding in containing them through the lights of Michuki and them.
So now Kibaki (sorry, I meant Resident Magistrate Teresia Ngugi) has acquitted Mungiki leader John Maina Njenga due to lack of evidence. Can you imagine testifying against this chap? I mean, I have balls of steel but…. We all know the law is an ass, however, conspire the following at will. While Michuki tames the beast with the re-introduction of the Michuki Rules and a bill that will never see the light of day, the Messiah of the menace is set free following a short period of the most heinous killings perpetrated by his flock. Mungiki has surely won the battle….. just wait for the war.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, can anyone really vote for another Kibaki administration? I mean surely, his aloofness baffles even the incompetent flankers around him.
I hear you all, am a Kikuyu and do not support the Mungiki. We are on the verge of a Kikuyu civil war..I for one will not accept to be dominated by a bunch of ragamuffins who are too lazy to work and prefer to extort money from those who do, inluding fellow kikuyus.
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of the struggle for independence, I always sense a measure of inferoirity from other tribes..granted that the entire GEMA population was rounded up and either put into detention or packed like sardines into reserves. All the while the other tribes could brazenly walk around the country with Kipande around their neck and gain meaningful employment...
Moi taught Kikuyu one thing, that as long as they hold economic and numerical strength, they are a threat to any president from another community.
What happens is that if Raila were to take over the presidency, he would go all out to suppress the Kikuyu as Moi did. He would destroy their means of economic production like coffee, tea etc and target their captains of industry.
Gentlemen commenting here, you have no idea why the Mungiki are here..someone saw clearly that the presidency will not ALWAYS be vested in the Kikuyu so they needed someone to protect their interests, and this election year they most probably will.
Every tribe has its thugs.
ReplyDeleteNobody should think that the rest of Kenyans can be threatened without giving Mungiki a huge run for their money.
Mungiki is not another name for kikuyu. I am a kamba but i will never support this wholesome condemnation of a tribe by peopole who profess being champions of nationhood. U spend so much time telling us how tribal the kiuks are only to turn around and spend the remainder of the time castigating the kiuks. Some consistency please.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest victims of these mungiki genocides are the kiuks themselves. Our politicians are murderers and that's why they sponsor these goons to kill, destroy and rob. It doesnt matter whether those politicians are kiuks, jeng or kao. They should shower the burden of blame, not a whole tribe.
They always say there are two tribes--the haves and the havenots. the 2007 presidential race has confirmed that for me
In actuality, the whole tribe must be castigated as it’s their brothers, sisters, uncles and children who complete the ranks of Mungiki. Members of the sect are well known and even revered in some sections of this community. To prove my point, consider this: (1) Lackluster communal condemnation of the sect. Talk of how to silence the gang is not prevalent in Kikuyu pubs (and churches). Now I understand fear but… (2) Religious/Political leadership denigration of Mungiki is are far and wide at best. In some instances, support for Mungiki is lauded. The reaction of the public when such pronouncements are made is usually cheers…. actually equivalent to the Reich Salute.
ReplyDeleteWhat I’m attacking is not “Kikuyu the man”. I mean “Kikuyu the man” can be a good friend (and undercut you whenever money is involved) and most are hard working (when not looking for loopholes). As a matter of fact, “Kikuyu the man” is my drinking buddy (leave your wallet in the car when you visit a pub).
Oh and Kikuyu anon who wrote: “”Gentlemen commenting here, you have no idea why the Mungiki are here..someone saw clearly that the presidency will not ALWAYS be vested in the Kikuyu so they needed someone to protect their interests, and this election year they most probably will.”””
That is exactly what I’m saying.
Kuiks dont have a problem with Mungiki.
ReplyDeleteIts very inaccurate, in fact a blatant lie to equate the Mungiki with the Kikuyu. Yes, they ARE the sons of Gikuyu, but they are NOT THE Gikuyu.Its like saying all Germans were/are Nazi, all Muslims al-Qaeda, all Christians crusaders or the Ku Klux Klan. Or all Luhyas are Baenghele. You get me?
ReplyDeleteThink about it:who has suffered the most under Mungiki?? The other Gikuyu. These ......insert-word-to-describe-how-frustrated-I-feel -about-the-Mungiki.... killed my first cousin on the night of 5th/6th January, 2003. He died young, leaving two very young kids without a father. Not to mention that he did not accomplish his dreams.
I'm not asking for your sympathies or even empathies here, I can never hope to get any-you will never have any idea.I'm putting things into context and correcting some major misconceptions within the most learned nationalists among us. Yaliyopita si ndwele, tugange yaliyomo na yajayo, jameni!
Proud "this tribe" woman!
Untill the social inequalities in Kenya are addressed, then we will have to live with this menace and others like it. Period. If the police are managed by the state like personal poodles, this happens to be the results! It the law of cause and effect. We sow what we plant.
ReplyDeleteclick to http://assidous.blogspot.com
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ReplyDelete