Mungiki

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Mungiki is a politico-religious group and a banned criminal organization^[1] in Kenya. The name means "A united people" or "multitude" in the Kikuyu language.^[2] The religion, which apparently originated in the late 1980s, is secretive and bears some similarity to mystery religions. Specifics of their origin and doctrines are unclear. What is clear is that they favor a return to indigenous African traditions and reject Westernisation and all trappings of colonialism. This includes rejection of Christianity, and the practice by the Mungiki of forced female genital cutting. The ideology of the group is characterised by revolutionary rhetoric, Kikuyu traditions, and a disdain for Kenyan modernization, which is seen as immoral corruption.^[3]

Contents 1 History 2 Extortion and ethnic violence 3 Miscellany 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

According to one of Mungiki's founders, the group began in the late 1980s as a local militia in the highlands to protect Kikuyu farmers in disputes over land with Masai and with forces loyal to the government, which was dominated by the Kalenjin tribe at the time. The founders supposedly modelled Mungiki on the Mau Mau fighters who fought British colonial rule. During the 1990s, the group had migrated into Nairobi with the acceptance of the government under Daniel arap Moi and began to dominate the matatu (private minibus taxi) industry. With the move to Nairobi came the development of a cell structure within the group. Each cell contains 50 members and each cell is then divided into 5 platoons. Using the matatus as a springboard, the group moved into other areas of commerce, such as garbage collection, construction, and even protection racketeering. Inevitably, the group's actions led to involvement with politicians eager for more support. In 2002, Mungiki backed losing candidates in elections and felt the wrath of the government. The group's activities became less visible although it still received revenue from protection taxes, electricity taxes and water taxes.^[4] They have been newsworthy for associations with ethnic violence and anti-government resistance.

[edit] Extortion and ethnic violence

Mungiki operates most extensively in Mathare, Nairobi's second largest slum, where poverty and crime are pronounced. A recent Inter Press Service article vividly describes Mungiki operations in that slum as essentially constituting a "street gang" or a criminal network that contributes to, and feeds off of, an environment plagued by a state of perpetual security crisis. Every resident of the slum pays a variable sum of money to the organization, in exchange for protection against theft and property damage. In addition, the gang "mans" public toilets, and charges a fee for use of the facilities. Such acts of extortion, along with the general lack of effective local law enforcement, have generally enraged residents of Mathare.

More than 50 people died in 2002 in clashes involving the sect and owners of matatus in Nairobi alone. In 2002 the sect was banned and in February 2003, the sect was in the news following two days of clashes with Nairobi police which left at least two officers dead and 74 sect members in police custody. In June of 2007, Mungiki embarked upon a murderous campaign to instill fear by beheading matatu drivers,conductors and mungiki defectors, drawing an armed response from Kenyan security forces, who stormed the Mathare area. Some 100 people died in the operation.

Mungiki has also been linked to the murder of a family in the USA in which Mrs Jane Kurua, 47 and her two daughters were killed, the case is still under investigation by the FBI.^[5] On 12 July 2007 Kenyan authorities reported that Mungiki decapitated and mutilated the body of a two year old boy, possibly as part of a ritual.^[6]

In November 2007, a human-rights group called the Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya reported that in the five years up to August, 2007, Kenyan police had killed over 8,000 people in crackdowns against the Mungiki sect, with further 4,000 people still missing. These allegations were based on interviews, autopsies, and police reports. Meanwhile, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights linked the police to the execution of 500 Mungiki over the previous five months. The police describe the reports as fictitious.^[7]

Although the group had setbacks due to the police crackdown, they took advantage of the lawlessness and mayhem resulting from the disputed December 2007 presidential elections to regroup. Many Mungkiki participated in targeted violence against ethnic Luos during this period.^[8]

[edit] Miscellany

• There have been unconfirmed allegations that Mungiki has links to both the old KANU government and some MPs in the current government. In fact, because of the cult's extreme secrecy, little is known about its membership or hierarchy.^[9]

• All initiates have to swear a standard oath ending with the words "May I die if I desert or reveal our secrets."^[10]

• Many members state that at the height of its influence, the group could claim as many as 500,000 members and received substantial sums of money. Many Kenyans debate whether the group's influence in Nairobi is waning or is on the rise.^[11]

• Mungiki issued a curfew for all Asians in Nairobi, threatening to decapitate any Asian found in public after 7pm. This issue is currently being dealt with by the anti-violence sector in Kenya. This sector is trained to combat terrorism.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Kenya National Youth Alliance - youth wing of the Mungiki

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• "Armed and Dangerous: Kenya's armed groups", IRIN 22 February 2008
• BBC News, "Profile: Kenya's Secretive Mungiki Sect", 11 February 2003
• Dr. James Santucci's Mungiki site
• CNN.com, "6 beheadings blamed on sect shock Kenyans", 22 May 2007
• The Standard (Nairobi), "Kenya: It's Bloodbath As Police Strike Back At Mungiki", 6 June 2007
• RICKROSS and MUNENE on Mungiki
• Safer Access - The Mungiki - Cult, Street Gang or Political Force?