Is witchcraft overwhelming Mungiki in Murang’a?

By JAMES MWANGI

For years, members of the outlawed Mungiki sect have remained a thorn in the flesh in Central Kenya, terrorising and defrauding hapless residents.

But in parts of Murang’a County, a new sheriff is stealthily dealing the Mungiki a deathblow and bringing down sect members like a house of cards.

Apparently, residents of Kigumo District, especially businesspeople, are seeking charms from witchdoctors, not to protect their businesses but to squash njama, or pests, as the Mungiki are known here.

Milk cow

For instance, in the matatu business, which is a milk cow for Mungiki, new entrants cough about Sh30,000 whereas old operators are charged a relatively lower rate for introducing new vehicles on a route. This is exclusive of daily levies.

But whereas operators have been parting with the money, they ensure the cash is first ‘treated’ by witchdoctors, to render the initial recipients zombies or kill them altogether.

This has sparked apprehension and scores of the adherents have shunned extortion activities after seeing their ‘workmates’ commit suicide or go mad. 

Vigilance

“If you thought the Mungiki are running away from the roads here due to police vigilance, you are mistaken. Yes, the government has tried, but witchcraft is the new ‘medicine’ bringing them down,” confirmed a matatu driver who did not wish to be named.

Though this is talked of in low tones, tales of those who have gone nuts or luckily escaped death or ‘madness’ abound. The trend reportedly started when a driver and his conductor from the area were mercilessly butchered a few years ago despite having met the sect’s demands.

The entire gang involved encountered mysterious fates, with four reportedly hanging themselves separately in one night on the same Mugumo tree.

Barely three years ago, other sect members were hired to raze down a business at a busy shopping centre. Despite the owner’s pleas not to, they executed their mission. All were bewitched and today, one of the accomplices, now insane, is a common fixture at shopping centres where he walks around muttering, “We were paid Sh1,000 for that mission”.

This year, some members ‘visited’ a home that had just received bride price for the daughter and took everything, including Sh40,000 in cash. But ten days later, it is alleged they came begging at the victim’s gate with the goodies stuck on their backs.

For two days, their pleas were snubbed and they relied on family members to spoon-feed and quench their thirst. A fundraiser was arranged to raise the money and placate the owner to ‘set them free’. They quit the sect afterwards.

Kigumo OCPD Said Mohammed confirmed that these claims are rampant in public gossip forums, but was categorical that they have not been reported.

“Claims of people going mad are awash amongst residents, but we have not received complaints and no cases have been reported,” Mohammed told Crazy Monday.

Interestingly, the move has received overwhelming support from wananchi, including staunch Christians.

 “Though witchcraft is a sin, they deserve it. Why live off the sweat of others?” says Wanjiku a resident.