Governor Wa Iria urges probe on new youth group he says could be linked to Mungiki

Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria has expressed fears of the re-emergence of the outlawed Mungiki sect and its deadly reign of terror.

Ahead of the August elections, Mr Wa Iria has called on the national government through the Ministry of Interior to initiate investigations on a youth group perceived to be linked to a certain politician.

He said the group known as ‘Njaa Nene’ should be scrutinised as it could be operating as the outlawed Mungiki sect to cause terror on innocent people, adding that it has been secretly recruiting the youth.

Mr Wa Iria said that sometimes back, Murang’a county had been faced with a serious challenge of insecurity perpetrated by the Mungiki insisting that this should not recur.

Addressing journalists in his office, the governor said that the group is said to carry out its recruitment in secrecy with blessings from a political aspirant in the region.

“They are recruiting youth at night. Mungiki was called Njaama. The new group has come with a name almost similar to that, 'Njaa Nene', shortening 'Njaama' to 'Njaa' so as to dupe the police and people, the full name is 'Njaama Nene',” he said.

WARNED YOUTH

Urging youths not to join the group, the county boss said he has reported the matter to the county security team chaired by Murang’a County Commissioner John Elungata.

Mr Wa Iria said the group might have been initiated to cause chaos during campaigns.

On his part, the county commissioner said he was aware of the group.

However, the group has not been linked to any criminal activities as alleged, he said.

The administrator said criminal investigation officers are on the ground verifying information received from politicians concerning the group.

“We know (of) the existence of the said group after we received reports from local leaders. We assure people that action will be taken immediately they are linked with criminal activities. We cannot (for now) label them as an illegal group,” he said

“The security apparatus including the county Directorate of Criminal Investigations have been investigating and did not find any lead linking the group to the outlawed Mungiki sect [or] any bad or criminal intent,” he added.

Mr Elungata said that the government has been encouraging the formation of youth and women groups to help in fostering developmental activities.