Sonko now ‘turns to the Lord’

Makadara MP Gidion Kioko Mbuvi, alias Sonko, repented at a Sunday service at the Hope International Ministries in Nairobi.

Mr Mbuvi said he converted to Christianity to set an example for other politicians, whom he expected to seek God’s forgiveness for crimes committed under their watch.

The MP, in his trademark baggy T-shirt and jewellery, arrived in a convoy of cars in the church headed by Goldenberg architect Kamlesh Pattni.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was also present. Mr Mbuvi thanked Mr Njenga, whom he described as a “brother” for his support during the campaigns for the Makadara seat.

“At the time, the whole government had pitched camp here to campaign for my opponents, with ODM rooting for Reuben Ndolo, and PNU going for Dick Wathika,” he said.

He added: “We used to hold night meetings with Maina Njenga and the youths who largely boosted my vote count.”

Saying that he and Mr Njenga had been jailed before, the MP said that prisons were reform institutions and urged Kenyans to change their attitude towards former convicts.

The MP said he was repenting on behalf of other political leaders, whom he said never took action even when an entire congregation was burnt to death during the post-election violence.

He was referring to an incident in which 35 people were burnt to death at Kiambaa, Eldoret, in January 2008.

He further blamed the police over the extrajudicial killings of the youth and urged Internal Security minister George Saitoti to look for other ways of dealing with the youth.

“Our youth are being killed haphazardly, yet they have as much right to citizenship as the leaders of this country,” he said. He said unemployment was the major factor that led the youth to crime.

The MP promised to use his seat to fight for more freedom for the youth. “I challenge the coalition partners to do more for the youth who have a right to good leadership.

“If they don’t, they will be swept out of power. Kanu came and went, so did Narc. The same will happen to ODM and PNU,” he said.

Mr Mbuvi, his wife Primrose, 32, and three- year-old daughter, Sandra, knelt on the altar as they prayed for the youth, whom he said were being “finished” by the police as they looked for better life.