Mungiki leaders charged

Kenya Broadcasting Corp./March 6, 2004
By Vincent Lempaa

The National Chairman of the outlawed Mungiki sect, John Maina Njenga and 32 others have been charged with administering an unlawful oath and being in possession of crude weapons.

Maina and his group appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate, Aggrey Muchelule on a third count of being members of an outlawed group.

The Mungiki leader and his members allegedly took an unlawful oath at a slum behind Riverside hotel on February 26th.

The prosecution opposed their release on bail on the grounds that they posed a risk to state security.

He said police require the accused to assist them with investigations. The prosecution said one of the Mungiki members was abducted and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Samuel Muhoti representing the group said this was an excuse to deny his clients bail.

The accused were remanded in custody until Tuesday next week when the Chief Magistrate will rule on their application for bail.