How elderly Muslims saved Nairobi man from the jaws of death

Gitonga Muhoro

By ISHAQ JUMBE

MOMBASA, KENYA: Gitonga Muhoro, a Nairobi-based businessman with investments and a home in Mombasa had just dropped off his wife and children at the Moi International Airport and was heading home when he decided to take a detour that led him straight to disaster.

Gitonga had no idea that Mvita was a no-go zone with police and youths from Musa mosque engaging in fierce running battles.

“They just let me drive into an ambush and then descended on me from all sides,” he told The Standard.

The youth according to Gitonga yanked open all doors of his car and violently hauled him out as they demanded to know his faith.

“Recite the Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith)!” he was ordered.

“I have heard La Ilaha Ila Llah many times before but did not know it is the one referred to as Shahada,” he said as he writhed in pain Monday. He was therefore declared an infidel, beaten and robbed.

“They hit me so much until my body became numb and I fell to the ground. Pleading with them to stop seemed to enrage them further.” His car was torched and was burning fast nearby.

But as they continued assaulting him, two elderly Muslim men came out of the blue and led him to the safety of a toilet. “They were dressed in kanzus and had long beards. They were old and feeble but their determination to save a man they did not know made them do all they could to shield me with their bodies,” he reveals.