Fear has gripped parts of country more especially Nairobi county as the dreaded Mungiki Sect’s activities seem to be re-emerging after years of non-existence,following a violent crackdown against the group and their remnants by the government.
Residents of Nairobi County especially those from Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum have been witnessing crimes and murders that are similar to those associated with the outlawed gang.
The group calling itself Nairobi Business Community has in recent weeks raised eyebrows over their physical appearance and utterances during press conferences, with many questioning their credentials and motive.
Social media has been abuzz as Kenyans question the group’s identity.At some point, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) disowned the group, saying they were not members of the organisation.
But, Mr Wilfred Kamau, the group’s chairman, told the Sunday Nation they had nothing to do with Mungiki.
According to the residents the gang is seriously exhorting form traders and people who operate matatus in certain areas.
‘Its no secret, there is an illegal gang that operates in this slum and has been exhorting money from vendors, trader and matatus operators’’ recounted Joseph Odhiambo one of the resident of Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum.
The gang is said to be imposing harsh fines and punishments, sometimes even expelling traders who fail to comply with their demands.
On 24th November 2017 a 32 years old Henry Omwoyo a resident of Mukuru Kwa Njenga kwa was beaten up by this gang using crude weapons nearly to death for reusing to pay them the illegal tax from his water vendoring business.
As much as the group through their chairman has tried to disassociate themselves from Mungiki, the way they conduct themselves and their illegal activities in the slum leaves no benefit of doubt that they are indeed Munguki. Something that even prominent figures in the country have attested that these group is the latest gang of Mungiki.
Interior cabinet secretary early this year short-listed this group as one of the most outlawed gang in the country. This was after the inspector general of police hinted about the re-emergence of Mungiki as Nairobi Business community. He had issued an alert about a plot to reinvigorate the criminal gang ahead of the 2017 election.
Here is what he said. “The national police service is aware of the plans to revive over 50 outlawed groups, including Mungiki going by the name Nairobi Business Community, in the country, but as the police we will not let them flourish,” said Joseph Boinnet.
According to Miguna, the credentials of the people claiming to be members of the ‘Nairobi Business Community’ has no been provided and he will not withdraw his assertions until he sees their credentials.
“The ‘Nairobi Business Community’ are members of Mungiki. Their credentials have not been provided and for that matter, I will not withdraw my statement not unless I see their credentials,” reiterated Miguna.
The fact that some of their leaders have escalate to national politics is the reason why Mungiki is now rebranding at surprising rate even with the knowledge of the security departments.
Author: Anonymous.
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