Lenku blames land feuds for shooting
What you need to know:
- “The land that Mungiki is trying to subdivide belongs to the government. Security officials have been directed to protect the land by all means possible. Anyone eyeing government land is a criminal,” said the minister.
Feuds between Mungiki members and their rivals seeking control Kitengela plots have been blamed for the shooting of former sect leader Maina Njenga’s vehicle.
The Saturday incident near Nyahururu town left five people dead, with Mr Njenga sustaining bullet wounds.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku Sunday said: “He is being fought by his rivals. His claim that police were behind his shooting on Saturday is not true.”
Mr Lenku said Mungiki members were trying to extort money from the public with the promise that they would be given parcels of land.
He warned that action would be taken against anyone who attempts to get money from the public in exchange of land in Kitengela.
Government land
“The land that Mungiki is trying to subdivide belongs to the government. Security officials have been directed to protect the land by all means possible. Anyone eyeing government land is a criminal,” said the minister.
Security officers and Mungiki members are said to be seeking control of the 2,000-acre land in Athi River, bordering Kitengela.
Mr Lenku said the Portland Cement land and a ranch were government property not subject to sub-division.
He warned anybody eyeing the parcels of land, including security officers, that they will face the full force of the law.
Yesterday, Mr Peter Njoroge dismissed claims that he was against his brother, Mr Njenga.
He accused officers from the National Intelligence Service of trying to create division so that it appears he was responsible for his brother’s shooting.
“They want to assassinate my brother. He is a target of the police because he has a great influence among the youth,” he told the Nation.
He further said Mr Lawrence Kagicha’s following, which has been in conflict with Mr Njenga’s, was a creation of the police aimed at eliminating his brother’s influence.
“Some have claimed that I am the one who is after my own brother’s life. Others have said it is Mungiki. The truth is that it is the police who want to eliminate him because of his large youth following,” said Mr Njoroge.
He said Mr Njenga has always feared for his life for a long time and Saturday’s incident was just a confirmation of what he dreaded.
