smash them now
written by donworry , April 25, 2007

The traditional sect or religious cult status of Mungiki is simply a smoke screen to obscure the fact that this outfit is nothing more than a well-connected and extremely deep rooted extortionist mafia. Their earlier rabid anti-western propaganda and back to basics message for the youth coupled with their ridiculous penchant for snuff and dreadlocks ensured that we did not take them seriously whilst they were laying their foundations. They beat the FGM drum as we ignored their extortion activities in the slums

Today the leadership claims that the sect has up to two million members around the country. They are known to have infiltrated government offices, schools, all areas of the justice system and importantly the police forces across the land. It has also become increasingly apparent that many leading business, media and other professional figures quietly offer support and finance to this sect. On several occasions leading members have claimed that some senior officials of this government are members of the sect. There can be no other explanation as to why some well-known mungiki leaders are still at large.

Read how this government and the previous one played as this monster grew and find out what happened when the anti-west traditionalists were told off for visiting Christian services after a mass conversion to Islam .

Link here

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written by emmo opoti , April 25, 2007

A little math, if as is alleged they charge Kshs. 300 (more or less ) per matatu trip, they are likely raking in at least 2 million a day. Remove one million for leakage and such and you have a pretty powerful organisation and likely a source of income for several families.

In a nutshell, just as with the Mafia in the USA, Mungiki will not be quenched by mere crime fighting. It will take much more, a solution to the land question and the employment of the hordes of idle youth who are captured by the sense of family and the macho culture of the organisation.

Can they be taken down?
written by Aegeus , April 25, 2007

I have been observing the goings on and think this is an organisation that has grown from petty crime to grand extortion. I have yet to hear a route in which they do not have their mitts deep in matatu operator pockets. They, as Emmo puts it fill in a niche for the youth who are easily influenced and need a feeling of belonging and in this era of scarce job opportunities it has no shortage of recruits since it promises power and money, difficult things to say no to especially for a broke young man.

Too little too late
written by Gish , April 25, 2007

I would think we let it run out of hand. We had chances stop it eg Elgon clashes, we tend to react when its too late and then hope to squash with one strike n o siree it wont be that easy. First let find something for these youth to do once we sort this mungiki issue out

False religion ?
written by Mrs A , April 25, 2007

Mungiki may have started as a religion but quickly morphed into something else, that was far from it. As Aegeus said, given the circumstances of the "lost youth", scarce job opportunites andsuch.....tis become a fertile ground for such activities taht we see, hear and read about this so called "religious sect"

Lets see how long the Rhino Squad will uphold their vigil of sorts.

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written by aeichener , April 25, 2007

Believe me, I have more trust in the equity of Mungiki, than in the Kenyan judiciary.

Alexander

Religion....it is a coverup!
written by fello , April 25, 2007

I live along this route and to a big extent, religion in the issue is just a cover up! While we all decry the insecurity in our areas, one thing goes unsaid.
Am not yet convinced that our leaders(Both in the govt and across the oppossition) are very sincere in their efforts to fight this gang. Recently, the police linked some top officials of the matatu owners association to the gang....opposition leaders are said to have a had in sponsoring these youths in the gang for their own political mileage(as are some of their counterparts in the govt).
In its origins Mungiki had alot to do with our political leaders. ..towards the end of Moi era. Largely then it had the role of causing enough pain to the govt then hence lay a reason for oppositions discredting of the govt. However when this aweful mission got over, youth whoo had been gathered and 'moneyed' to cause mayhe had, suddenly, nothing to do; a fall from otherwise false employment. They reinvented ways of keeping then going. The easiest pawn is the public service vehicles, commuters and investors in the industry.
my thinnking, and am open to ideas , this ought to be treated as Organized Crime. Let specialized security agencies like CID, NSIS and special branch be deployed. Even have them go undercover to reach the bottom of this menace. This might be expensive; but i dare say it is worth. Unfortunately it requires political will and even financing from the custodian of the public security: the govt

re: New reich
written by jayawardene , April 26, 2007

I trust them more than the ones who shoould protect us; goverment

I think you will find that one is a subset of the other

New reich
written by felix , April 26, 2007

I trust them more than the ones who should protect us; government

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written by a guest , April 26, 2007

I believe that while unemployment may be a big factor that is sending the youth into these group, one can't ignore the rise of Kikuyu nationalism. I was shocked to find out that a guy I knew that was collage educated and very gainfully employed was a member. His reasons while quite perverse to me could easily find sympathy from other areas of society.

...
written by emmo opoti , April 26, 2007

Interesting discussion. I heard once about a woman who had been the victim of continued abuse from her husband. Her entreaties to her family were ignored, they said that they'd be unable to return the ruracio so she should rest easy and take a pill, to chill.

That would have been the end of the story,except she had a brother who was in Mungiki. The abusive mzee was paid a late night visit by the congregation of wazees who warned him of dire consequences if he did not realise the error of his ways. Well, old habits you know, the man slid back. He was promptly arrested and subjected to a public humiliation, a la mode-Mungiki. After the lashing he returned to his home where he became a model father and husband.

It is also said that those who have paid Mungiki protection money on these routes, or in the infested areas, are owed the guardianship of the brothers. Needless to say, an area with many Mungiki does not have high crime rates. Such aggressive tendencies are exported to other sehemus.

Elements of these tales may be apocryphal, but they point to the fact that Mungiki are to many people a fact of life, and even sometimes a benign one. The money collected by these Mungiki youths may be spent in part on snuff and muguka but for sure a lot of it goes into school fees and unga for the cucu. Unless alternatives can be found to employ these idle hands (not just at election time but productive employment) then we are cursed with Mungiki for eternity.

Extotion, Murder & Oath taking
written by InSidious , May 01, 2007

The previous contributor rather extolled mungiki virtues, a kinder gentler side of the mafia style entity. I think it’s just as important to note that organized crime as in the case of say Pablo Escoba, the Benini Family among other criminal entities endeared themselves through acts of generosity. The façade is the magnet and this is obviously not lost to the leaders of this sect. Perhaps the greatest example is the 3rd Reich, which evolved and perfected sectarian doctrine to serve its interest and arguably, the greatest yet tragic lesson in human history.

Nevertheless, organized crime, terror gangs and religious sects as is historically evident generally serves the interests of a few. Benign as their presence or penetration into the society might seem, it still remains a mucky underworld of control, extortion, violence and money. When the rule of law is subjugated by an oath and allegiance not to a Country, the consequence can be tragic, and no government ought to stand for that.

should stop this
written by wambui , September 22, 2007

i think mungiki should stop this,why do they want to do against the government and against God,how do they feal when they kill innocent people some are even students who are our tommorrows hope,i pray God to change them and let them realise that even taking oaths is childish