How Former Mungiki Leader Maina Njenga was Arrested

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has been arrested in Matasia, Kiserian Sub-County in Kajiado.

Njenga’s lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, said that the family had informed them that Njenga had been arrested by a group of people who introduced themselves as police officers.

“He has been arrested by people who were in more than 20 vehicles. This is not an arrest but an abduction,” Njiru told Nairobi News on the phone.

Njenga was picked up by the officers who said they wanted to question him on his involvement in the ongoing anti-government demonstrations on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, witnessed in various parts of the country.

The arrest comes just three days after Njenga told off critics who suggested he was all interested in being the Mount Kenya kingpin.

The critics had said that his interest was to fight off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from the helm of Mount Kenya.

“They claim that I want to be the kingpin of Mount Kenya’s village. I am not interested in that. I am past it. If someone wants to be a kingpin, then he or she can be that,” said Njenga.

He also said that he did not have any differences with the DP, and his focus was purely different on matters of politics in the vast Mount Kenya region.

He asked President Dr William Ruto to sit with Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and solve their differences.

Njenga has been accused of trying to regroup the Mungiki group, which is an outlawed group in the country.

The country is currently witnessing the third wave of demonstrations that were called by Mr Odinga.

The demonstrations are scheduled between Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21, 2023.

Njiru said that he had written to the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, demanding the immediate release of Njenga.

“We have written to the IG demanding the immediate release of our client. We have also demanded to know why he was arrested and where he is being held,” said Njiru.

The arrest of Njenga has sparked outrage among his supporters and members of the public. Many people have accused the government of targeting Njenga because of his political views.

The government has denied these accusations and has said that Njenga was arrested in connection with a criminal investigation.

It remains to be seen what charges, if any, will be brought against Njenga. However, his arrest and detention have highlighted the growing political tensions in Kenya.