Maina Njenga condemns arrest of suspected Mungiki members, insists they're innocent

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has condemned the government for what he termed as harassing and arresting innocent Kikuyu youths who were reportedly attending a rally held by a section of Mt. Kenya leaders in Kabiru-Ini, Nyeri County.

According to Njenga, there was no such meeting scheduled as no notice had been issued to members of the public and the youth arrested were going about their businesses in preparation for the New Year.

Njenga, who outrightly pointed blaming fingers at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accused the latter of political witch hunt which he said was spilling over to innocent youths.

“It bothers me that a Kikuyu leader is using the State machinery to criminalise the same people who supported him during the 2022 general election. By labelling our innocent youths as members of Mungiki, Mr Rigathi is not only setting them up against the notorious police brutality, but he is also setting up the entire community for extinction," he said.

"When did the jobless, hopeless and disgruntled hustlers become Mungiki? Kweli asante ya punda ni mateke. Let the regime of the day stop, cease and desist from criminalising innocent Kikuyu youths, and embark on addressing the underlying problem of the skyrocketing cost of living."

He has demanded that the regime stop criminalising Kikuyu youth and instead address the skyrocketing cost of living.

"We urge the police or those who have arrested innocent youths to release them immediately. If the arrested youths will not be released on bail or bond by the police pending their arraignment in court, we urge the state to observe the 24-hour rule," he said.

About 200 individuals were arrested in Nyeri town and its environs in a crackdown on supporters of the former Mungiki leader on Sunday.

The operation followed Nyeri County Police Commissioner Pius Murugu's ban on a planned rally that was slated to be held and attended by a section of Mt. Kenya leaders, at the Kabiru-ini grounds stating that it was unlawful.

A contingent of security officers stationed along the Nyeri - Nairobi, Nyeri - Nyahururu and Nyeri - Nanyuki highways erected security checks to prevent Njenga’s supporters from attending the planned meeting at the grounds.