Wednesday, 5 March 2008, 17:15 GMTÂ Â
The BBC has learnt of allegations of state-sanctioned violence in Kenya during the turmoil that followed last December’s disputed presidential poll.
Sources allege that meetings were hosted at the official residence of the president between the banned Mungiki militia and senior government figures.
The aim was to hire them as a defence force in the Rift Valley to protect the president’s Kikuyu community.
The government denied the allegations, calling them “preposterous”.
For the full article, please see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7279149.stm
Looks like it was a busy day for Mungiki…
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Mungiki storm city, stage demo
Published on March 6, 2008, 12:00 am
By Standard Team
Hundreds of followers of the outlawed Mungiki sect staged a demonstration in Nairobi’s Central Business District, where they demanded the release of their leader Maina Njenga.
It was not immediately clear what brought out the chanting, placard-waving members of the sect in such full force only weeks after they had been repeatedly linked with an alleged plot to unleash a new wave of violence as talks in search of a political settlement out of the post-election crisis appeared to drag on endlessly.
Apart from running extortion rings largely targeting the matatu industry, the Mungiki kill in the most gruesome manner, usually by beheading their victims.
The killings, which appear as meant to instill fear, are often preceded by threats. Sometimes the gang organises sporadic attacks mounted as raids or carjackings.
It is alleged the sect enjoys high political patronage, hence the audacity with which they emerged.
Streaming into the Central Business District in such large numbers on Wednesday, the Mungiki caused a momentary security scare, catching everyone by surprise.
Police action was delayed for a frighteningly long spell as the early morning drama unfolded.
The demonstrators, estimated to be close to 3,000, poured onto several streets waving placards bearing the portrait of their leader, Maina Njenga, who is presently languishing in jail. They insist he is innocent.
ALSO…
The Standard reliably learnt that the majority of the demonstrators were transported from Murang’a and Maragwa overnight and assembled at River Road ahead of the early morning march.
When the police finally showed up, they seemed reluctant to stop the protest. The sect members were later dispersed near the Central Police Station as they finished their protest. This was after several businesses in the city had hurriedly closed in fear of violence.
Some of the demonstrators confessed that they wanted to send a message that they “still exist”.
FINALLY…
The sect followers were forced to disperse but later regrouped at the Globe Cinema roundabout where some of them jumped into matatus and sped off.
As police battled with them, some residents were overheard wondering how the group met and planned the demo without the police’s knowledge.
For the full article, please see http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143982886&cid=4
It is unfortunate that protest and demos have become way of claiming anything that organised groups want including political parties; let us see ho Raila will deal with this new phenomenon ithout international community accusing him of violation of human rights.He is the man with responsibility now.
ken.
It is strange that mungiki can still dare to come to Nairobi and demonstrate without the knowledge of the security operators.Ever since the time of Moi they have been used by state to bring fear by being allowed to demonstrate without interference from the police.If this is still happening then kenya is still far from getting peace.
We must accept that bbc was speaking the truth when it stated
that mungiki leaders met kibaki and his ministers at state house
where the killings of other tribes.If it is true then kibaki and his group of killers should be arrested and taken to the international
court for genoiced quickly.
If the meeting of mungiki leaders and kibaki is true then i suggest that he should be taken to the international court be
charged of genocide as quickly as possible. The power- sharing
agenda is just theory. He will just cheat people while looking for an excuse to trash the all process. He is known for keeping any
agreement. In fact his cunning behavior will be known within three months. Therefore,our people should stop being optimistic over the pease accord.