There was no Mungiki meeting at Njenga's home, says State witness

Police constable Eric Wainaina displaying a gun while testifying against Former Mungiki leader Maina Njengai at Nakuru court on November 20, 2023. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The police have failed to link Maina Njenga and 11 others to crimes related to the outlawed Mungiki gangs. 

Testimonies by two police officers who raided Njenga’s Nakuru home on May 12 at 5am failed to prove that the 12 were engaging or planning to commit crimes.

On Tuesday, Inspector Ekiru Lobuun testified before Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion that the raid was conducted following a tip-off that Njenga was conducting a meeting with an alleged Mungiki gang to plan a felony.

But Lobuun said during the raid, they found no such meeting. He confirmed that Njenga was not at the home in Wanyororo, Bahati Sub-County, at the time.

“We found the caretaker of the house and introduced ourselves as officers. We confirmed to him that we were conducting a search,” said Lobuun.

The police could not explain why the raid was conducted at that time.

During cross-examination, Lobuun said he didn’t find anything to suggest there was a meeting.

Police seized a pistol inside a drawer in one of the bedrooms, a toy gun under a pillow in another bedroom, and a magazine containing three nine-millimeter bullets.

He said they also impounded 96 rolls of cannabis and notes suggesting they were planning criminal activities. He said during the raid they also found rungus, machetes, flags and slashers.

According to the officer, they arrested eight of the 12 accused. He, however, could not link the eight to the alleged criminal activities.

“We only arrested the eight because they were in the compound. Other than that we could not tell whether they were committing crime or not,” said Lobuun. “We also could not tell whether the eight were linked to each other or had an activity together.”

He said he couldn’t confirm if they had warrants to search the house. His testimony corroborated that of Eric Wainaina, also a police officer.

The prosecution intends to call over 35 more witnesses. Njenga is charged with seven counts of being a member and a leader of the Mungiki gang. Njenga is also accused of engaging in organised crime and planning criminal activities.

He has denied the charges.