Calm returns as Mungiki fizzles out

By BONIFACE GIKANDI

Just a few years ago, most shopping centres in rural Murang’a were ghost centres.

After enjoying little business during the day, with young people idling around, nightfall brought misery. Cases of abduction and killings were the order of the day as members of the outlawed Mungiki sect reigned supreme from Kianjogu to Gitiri to Mukuyu, areas in the agricultural rich county.

Many of the vibrant market centres were forced to close down as the shopkeepers feared repercussions of failing to pay protection fees.

In Kianjogu and Gitiri villages in Kahuro District, for example, the sect members would raid a home and direct the owner to slaughter goats or chickens and prepare meals late in the night.

The gangs also forced their way into farms and harvested cabbages, whict they then loaded into pickups and sold at Mukuyu and other markets in the region.

Centres along the Kaharati-Kangari road were hard hit following the influx of the sect operatives. Many of the matatu crew were forced to flee following death threats for failing to part with a levy.

Drastic change

But this has dramatically changed. The shopping centres are now reporting brisk business as activities of the Mungiki fade. Youth are now engaging in income generating activities after the ringleaders of the sect appear to have left the area.

The youth who were part of the group harassing traders are fully engaged, turning many parts of the region, which were previously perceived to be thebedrock of the sect, into economic hubs.

With assistance from Youth Enterprise Fund and the support of the county government, hundreds of the youth have started development projects and quit crime.

Kenol Market in Murang’a South District attracted investors immediately after the government crushed the sect. Jane Njoki, whose shop was closed at the height of the sect activities, has reopened and is thankful for the role played by the government to create conducive environment.

“I was forced to close as I could not raise the amount asked by the sect members. Profit remained low since only a few customers came to my premise,” says Josephine Njoki, a mother of three.

Joseph Njoroge, who owned a shop at Kenol Market, abandoned the business in 2008 following a demand to part with Sh300 per month to the gang. “The operatives were cruel people who could harm you if you failed to honour your monthly obligations,” said Njoroge, who relocated to Sagana market.

Matatu crew operating along Murang’a routes lived in fear as sect members kept registers to establish those who avoided to part with the daily levy.

Due to the trend, public service vehicles from other areas feared plying along Murang’a County as they encountered sect operatives.

With community policing initiative, former sect members have transformed, with majority joining Christianity and turning productive. As part of the development taking place, 5,000 youth who were at risk of being lured to join the sect bought motor cycles (boda boda), which they use in ferrying passengers.

Youth rehabilitated

Kahuro DC Patrick Muli says they have rehabilitated the youth by engaging them in profitable ventures such as dairy farming, horticulture and boda boda business, pottery, dairy farming and horticulture farming, among other income generating ventures.

The DC, who chairs the District Security Committee, acknowledges that the region had closed down markets like Kianjogu, which are now vibrant.

“Mungiki sect activities are a thing of the past in Kahuro, as thousands of the youth have embarked on personal development programmes,” he says.

Murang’a County Commissioner Kula Hache has, however, asked parents to monitor behaviour of their children and offering guidance to save them from being lured into the sect activities. “Although there are cases of emerging gangs, there is need for parents to monitor movement of their children and ensure they are productive”.

District security committees, she said, are on high alert, monitoring if the sect operatives are re-emerging.

The matatu stations are free from the criminal gang leaving both the crew and their passengers to carry on their daily businesses.

Posta Youth Group in Murang’a town is an example of how those who had perfected crime are rehabilitated into the community engaging in self employment.

Many of the former Mungiki sect operatives, after years of being hunted by the security agents, were forced to change their ways to save them from falling target of the police.

They are forced to abide by the rules and regulations of their groups or risk being ejected if they fail to reform to ensure safety of their passengers especially at night.

Over 50 members

With more than 50 members, the boda boda operators group in Murang’a town is rated among the best for accommodating the former criminals after undergoing series of counselling sessions.