CS Kindiki warns of Mungiki resurgence, declares war on religious extremism

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to criminals using culture and tradition as an excuse to carry out their unlawful transgressions, further adding that his ministry has noticed a resurgence of the outlawed Mungiki sect in Central Kenya in the past few months.

Speaking on Wednesday when he unveiled the Interior Ministry's accountability report, Kindiki noted that there has been an increase in cultural extremism especially in Central and Eastern Kenya. 

"We saw them chanting outside the DCI when we arrested a suspect (Maina Njenga) and you can see the courage and demeanor of these criminals. I reiterate again that any person who thinks we can go back to the years when terror groups, hiding behind culture, raped, killed and extorted our people is mistaken," he said.

"All those who are recruiting unsuspecting youths to join prescribed organisations are enemies of Kenya and for the sake of Kenya, we will come for you and get rid of you. As much as I want to decongest prisons, I have room for dangerous criminals."

He added that quelling religious extremism, such as the Shakola massacre, remains a priority for the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"All those religious leaders who could be involved in criminal activities and are hiding behind scriptures, the use of religious teachings will not save you from the jaws of justice. When we are done with Paul Mackenzie we will have you as the next example."

The CS further noted that he strongly believes that security agents in Shakahola will discover more mass graves in the area.

"We will start opening those graves on Monday once the current phase of post-mortems of the last cohort of bodies is concluded at the end of week," he said.

Kindiki went on to state that through concerted efforts between various law enforcement agencies, the government has managed to flush out criminal elements in six North Rift counties that the state had in March initially designated as bandit-prone, disturbed and dangerous. The counties are; Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwt, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.

"Some of the criminals escaped and mixed with the general population and that is why we have had sporadic banditry attacks targeting livestock. The incidents are however not happening in grazing areas as had been the norm in the past," he said.

"Law enforcement officers cannot be anywhere but whenever there have been attacks, we have made significant strides in recovering stolen livestock."

The CS added that the government has also intensified disarmament efforts in the aforementioned areas further noting that the State has recovered around 200 firearms in the North Rift region.

"Any person holding an illegal firearm in Kenya must surrender them to the government voluntarily or we shall use force to recover them," said the Interior CS.

While lauding officers who assisted in the disarmament process, Kindiki likewise stated that the government is exploring long-term solutions to end banditry attacks in the North Rift.

"The permanent solution is to provide water points for animals to avoid unnecessary migration but we are also going to open up the North of Kenya with infrastructure development and social amenities like roads and hospitals. This is no longer a development issue; it is a security issue," he said.

"The future economic stability of Kenya lies in us securitizing large tracts of our country that remain unsafe and therefore they cannot attract local and foreign investments."

According to Kindiki, the Kenya Kwanza government has likewise initiated  operations to end the trade, manufacture and use of illicit and toxic alcoholic drinks, narcotics, and psychotropic substances further noting that the problem ranks third among the government's pressing national security threats.