Ex-Mungiki: He stepped on toes but we forgive him

Former leaders of the proscribed Mungiki sect have forgiven Mr John Michuki for the ruthless crackdown he ordered against the group when he was Internal Security minister.

Although he “stepped on the toes of many” in central Kenya, he was only implementing government policy, they said on Tuesday.

“He was a statesman and we respected him. We cannot blame him for whatever happened under his watch as he must have been acting on behalf of the government. We join other Kenyans and Kangema people in mourning mzee,” Mr Njoroge Kamunya, a brother of the sect’s founder leader Maina Njenga, said in a statement.

During Mr Michuki’s tenure, hundreds of youths in central Kenya and Nairobi are believed to have been killed in a bid to wipe out members of the illegal group.

The sect was blamed for extortion and brutal attacks on their perceived enemies.

Although they had forgiven the minister, Mr Kamunya said the atrocities committed are yet to sorted out by the government.

There are souls still crying for justice after their sons and husbands disappeared in the infamous extrajudicial killings of 2005 and 2006, he said.

“The government must ensure justice is done in honour of Mr Michuki,” added Mr Kamunya.

Made friends and enemies

Most former Mungiki leaders who claim to have converted to Christianity said Mr Michuki was a dedicated civil servant who in the course of his work, offended some people.

Pastor Ndura Waruinge, a former national coordinator of the sect, said Mr Michuki had made friends as well as enemies in the course of his work.

“As an implementer of government policies, there are things you do and step on the toes of some people,” said Mr Waruinge.