TNA says ex-mungiki leader 'not welcome' to party

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance has rejected reports that former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga is planning to join the party.

TNA said that Mr Njenga was “not welcome” to the party, adding that the reports were “maliciously” made to coincide with International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s current visit.

One of the charges Mr Kenyatta faces at the ICC is that he worked with Mungiki to execute the crimes.

“We categorically state that Maina Njenga is not welcome to TNA. It is also obvious that the reports on the Star Newspaper of Thursday, October 25, are malicious and are a deliberate attempt to paint the party and its leadership in negative light during the current visit of ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda,” TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja said in a statement.

He urged the media and the public “not to fall prey to the political machinations of Maina Njenga and his sponsors who have failed to use a more discrete way of concealing their intentions.”

Mr Sakaja, who also posted his reaction on social networks, Facebook and Twitter, said that TNA stands for the transformation of Kenya and for hope, opportunities for all, generational rejuvenation and unity of all communities.

“These are ideals which Maina Njenga does not represent in any way. There is little, if any, compatibility between us and him. Maina Njenga has stated repeatedly where he belongs and stands politically. He has been working with ODM and his party Mkenya Solidarity Movement and that is where he should remain,” Mr Sakaja said.

Mr Njenga has previously distanced himself from Mr Kenyatta and TNA and has been working with Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM though his Mkenya Solidarity Movement.

During the recent by-elections in Kangema, Mr Njenga played host to Mr Odinga in the area as they campaigned for the Mkenya Solidarity candidate who lost to TNA’s Tiras Ngahu.