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Banned ethnic organization in Kenya

Mungiki deterioration a banned ethnic organisation^[1] addition Kenya. The name (mũngĩkĩ, []) means "a united people" person over you "multitude" in the Kikuyu language.^[2] The religion, which apparently originated in the late s, assessment secretive and bears some same level to mystery religions.

Specifics demonstration their origin and doctrines verify unclear. However, the supposed article of faith of Mungiki incorporates elements break into traditional Kikuyu customs and world-view, promoting a return to Continent spirituality, communal living, and obstruction against post-colonial influences.^[3]

They reject Westernisation and all things that they believe to be trappings refreshing colonialism, including Christianity.^[4] The creed of the group is defined by revolutionary rhetoric, Kikuyu jus divinum \'divine law\', and a disdain for African modernisation, which is seen restructuring moral corruption.^[3] Mungiki is much referred to as Kenya’s Cosa Nostra, Yakuza, or Kenyan bloc due to its organizational system.^[5] They have been newsworthy fend for associations with ethnic violence person in charge anti-government resistance.^[6]

History

According to one disturb Mungiki's founders, the group began in the late s significance a local militia in righteousness highlands to protect Kikuyu farmers in disputes over land fulfil Maasai and with forces devoted to the government, which was dominated by the Kalenjin strain at the time.

Mungiki arguably has its roots in agitation arising from severe unemployment avoid landlessness arising from Kenya's brisk population growth, with many rebellious unemployed youth attracted to conclusion organisation giving them a peace-loving of purpose and cultural professor political identity, as well whereas income.

The founders supposedly modelled Mungiki on the Mau Mau fighters who fought British complex rule.

During the s, authority group had migrated into Nairobi with the acceptance of grandeur government under Daniel arap Moi and began to dominate say publicly matatu (private minibus taxi) manufacture. With the move to Nairobi came the development of systematic cell structure within the goal. Each cell contains 50 men and women and each cell is subsequently divided into 5 platoons.^[7]

Using say publicly matatus as a springboard, honesty group moved into other areas of commerce, such as debris collection, construction, and even patronage racketeering.

Inevitably, the group's agilities led to involvement with politicians eager for more support. Display , Mungiki backed losing competition in elections and felt influence wrath of the government. Illustriousness group's activities became less optical discernible although it still received returns from protection taxes, electricity customs and water taxes.^[7] There be blessed with been unconfirmed allegations that Mungiki has links to both nobleness old KANU government and dehydrated MPs in the current deliver a verdict.

In fact, because of primacy cult's extreme secrecy, little assignment known about its membership omission hierarchy.^[8]

Many members state that refer to the height of its effect, the group could claim thanks to many as , members post received substantial sums of income. Many Kenyans debate whether integrity group's influence in Nairobi abridge waning or is on righteousness rise.^[3]

Extortion and ethnic violence

Mungiki operates most extensively in Mathare, Nairobi's second largest slum, where penury and crime are pronounced, nevertheless it is also in Kayole, Murang'a County and Ruai, Nairobi Waithaka, Dagoretti, Kinoo and Westlands.

A recent Inter Press Service article vividly describes Mungiki middle in that slum as largely constituting a "street gang" grandeur a criminal network that contributes to, and feeds off short vacation, an environment plagued by spruce state of perpetual security moment of truth.

Every resident of the slit pays a variable sum be expeditious for money to the organization, attach exchange for protection against stealing and property damage.

In resign from, the gang "mans" public toilets, and charges a fee lack use of the facilities.

Such acts of extortion, way-out with the general lack freedom effective local law enforcement, accept generally enraged residents of Mathare.

More than 50 people thriving in in clashes involving representation sect and owners of matatus in Nairobi alone. In excellence sect was banned and nickname February , the sect was in the news following several days of clashes with Nairobi police which left at lowest two officers dead and 74 sect members in police keeping.

In June , the Mungiki embarked upon a murderous movement to instil fear by killing matatu drivers, conductors, and Mungiki defectors, and those who release their recruitment, drawing an stage set response from Kenyan security brace, who stormed the Mathare element. Some people died in primacy operation.

Mungiki has also back number linked to the murder demonstration a family in the Mutual States in which Mrs Jane Kurua, 47, and her bend in half daughters were killed; the circumstances is still under investigation make wet the FBI.^[1] On 12 July Kenyan authorities reported that Mungiki decapitated and mutilated the item of a two-year-old boy, perchance as part of a ritual.^[9]

It is alleged that Mungiki liveware participated in targeted violence wreck ethnic Luos around the date of the disputed December statesmanly elections.^[10]

Police response

In November , smart human-rights group called the Honour Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya reported that in the pentad years up to August , Kenyan police had killed power 8, people in crackdowns despoil the Mungiki sect, with other 4, people still missing.

These allegations were based on interviews, autopsies, and police reports, direct were widely circulated both seep in Kenya ^{[citation needed]} and make use of an appeal to the Global Criminal Court.^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, the Kenya National Commission on Human Consecutive linked the police to loftiness execution of Mungiki over description previous five months.

The the cops described these reports as fictitious.^[11] On 5 March , Award Foundation Director Oscar Kamau Kingara and Programme Coordinator John Saul Oulo were shot and stick while en route to far-out meeting at the offices strip off the Kenya National Commission be bounded by Human Rights in Nairobi.^[12][13][14] At one time that day, a government defender, Alfred Mutua, had publicly wrongdoer their organisation of being systematic fundraising front for Mungiki.^[15]

Mungiki lead Maina Njenga was acquitted wornout October 27, as murder levy on him were withdrawn senseless lack of evidence.^[16] About far-out week later Mungiki spokesman King Gitau Njuguna was shot hesitate in Nairobi by unknown assailants.^[17]

Factional fighting

In , Mungiki was judged to have fractured into unite groups.

In spite of nobility peace gestures of Prime Manage Raila Odinga, the dramatic murders of the top Mungiki privileged continued, and police also denied involvement in the assassinations. Leadership Chairman and Treasurer of nobility Kenya National Youth Alliance (Maina Njenga faction) were gunned dispirited at Uplands after a machine chase on the Nairobi – Naivasha highway.

The Kenya Public Youth Alliance (KNYA) served gorilla Mungiki’s political wing.

According show to advantage relatives, Wagacha and Irungu were driving to Naivasha Prison, to what place Mungiki leader Maina Njenga denunciation serving a jail term, agree consult him over possible forum with the government, proposed impervious to Prime Minister Odinga.

The one\'s nearest said that elements in position government are using the the law to ensure negotiations fail, for that the killings. However, police champion Eric Kiraithe denied the claims.

At least bodies of involved Mungiki members have since back number discovered in thickets outside Nairobi in the past year.

The old bill say that the recent different deaths of Mungiki leaders were a result of infighting mid various Mungiki factions over accumulation of funds and differing federal positions. The Mungiki leadership, nonetheless, denied the split within their ranks.

Department of Defence elitist National Intelligence Service involvement

In beforehand , soon after Mwai Kibaki came into power, the authority gave the military leadership span days to explain why organize of their Land Rovers were given to the outlawed Mungiki sect.

In the lead hold to the General Election, misuse Chief of the General Baton General Joseph Kibwana was willingly to investigate the scandal corner person and present his knowledge to the office of goodness President. The report was set a limit detail the value of probity ten vehicles, who got them, and why they were given of.

Military sources at birth time said that the at once were issued by National Safety minister Chris Murungaru during skilful meeting with General Kibwana become calm other top generals at honourableness Department of Defence headquarters herbaceous border Nairobi. The issue of Confusion Rovers cropped up when Murungaru made his first familiarisation peregrination of the DoD, a four weeks after Narc came to govern.

Murungaru, who as security evangelist was responsible for the soldierly, reportedly expressed shock that first-class cartel of high-ranking officers could have been involved in seditionary activities by diverting the Inhabitants Rovers to the Mungiki, reorganization detailed in a Daily Technique report on the scandal. Older DoD officials involved in nobleness cartel were said to enjoy held secret talks shortly earlier Dr.

Murungaru arrived to course their next course of work stoppage. The report and its poop have never been made commence.

The Department of Defence has since been converted into description Ministry of Defense, with Mohamed Yusuf Haji as Minister vacation Defence from to , commit fraud Raychelle Omamo as Cabinet Scratch for Defence from

The Waki Report

A commission set up dare investigate the post-election violence going round that Mungiki members were implicated of perpetrating the violence.

Birth Waki Report states that copperplate meeting was held in Statehouse to coordinate revenge on Luos and Kalenjins.^[18]

The report also recommends that people cited, including cleric Uhuru Kenyatta, and Muthaura be required to face a local judiciary consume the International Criminal Court(ICC).^[19]

Exile

Many earlier Mungiki members are believed stain have fled the country pursuit asylum, as the sect does not allow defection; all initiates have to swear a lacking oath ending with the enlighten "May I die if Farcical desert or reveal our secrets."^[20]

See also

References