re: MPs reluctant to speak out over sect

aboge001 wrote:

Is the goverment part of Mungiki?

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MPs reluctant to speak out over sect

Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 2007/06/09

Twenty four MPs from areas affected by Mungiki violence met in Nairobi to discuss ways to stop the blood-letting this week. Little is known about the agreements reached by the leaders but at the end of the five-hour meeting, Internal Security minister John Michuki did not mention the sect by name. Instead, he said the Government would crack down on criminals.Few MPs from areas affected by the sect have spoken openly about the group's vicious activities. Besides Mr Michuki, only a few have come out strongly to speak out against the killings of people and burning of matatus by the outlawed sect. Yesterday, the Saturday Nation talked to some of the MPs. An assistant minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Kembi Gitura, whose Kiharu constituency in Murang�a North District has witnessed seven of the 11 beheadings blamed on Mungiki, said: "I don't think there is anyone who can pinpoint somebody and say he belongs to Mungiki."

Though he condemned the killings, he could not link them to the sect, saying he does not know who its members are. According to him the killings of seven people in his constituency may have been perpetrated by gangsters. Contacted for comment, Laikipia West MP G.G. Kariuki said: "Don't force us to say what you want to write." He then excused himself. His Mathioya counterpart, Mr Joseph Kamotho, said: "Please you can call me later."

Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua told the Saturday Nation: "The issue is being handled properly. It is not a political issue. Let me stop at that." But religious leaders who were interviewed said they had always condemned the sect. Kenya Episcopal Conference chairman Archbishop John Njue said the Catholic Church was always keen to speak out against the mayhem caused by the group. "The best way to solve the problem is not to kill. If anything, killing will only aggravate the situation," said Archbishop Njue.

However, he said the National Security Intelligence Service and politicians should do their work. "The Government has the responsibility of ensuring its people are secure," the cleric told the Saturday Nation. Mt Kenya West Anglican Church of Kenya bishop, the Rev Joseph Kagunda supported Archbishop Njue's sentiments. According to him, the Government's move was welcome

We as the church are concerned with what is happening. Some MPs, some in the government have been mentioned. Let them come clean and tell Kenyans what is happening," Bishop Kagunda said. "The Government should investigate the sect and tell Kenyans the aim of Mungiki." Defence minister Njenga Karume's personal assistant said the Kiambaa MP had always condemned the killings. Cooperatives assistant minister David Mwenje said there were no killings in Embakasi, which he represents in Parliament. He supported the decision by the Head of the Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, to summon MPs from Central Kenya, saying the sect members were from that region.

Mr Mwenje criticised the police crackdown on Thursday in which 11 suspected Mungiki members were shot dead. Kigumo MP Kihara Mwangi said threats to his life began last November when he challenged Mungiki to stop killing innocent people. He revealed that during a meeting in his constituency he was warned to stop condemning the group or he would be a target. The MP reported the matter to the police and the district commissioner about the matter.

But on Wednesday, an anonymous caller again cautioned Mr Mwangi against criticising the sect. He said: "Somebody called me saying I should stop talking about Mungiki but I asked him why when their activities were a threat to peace." Mr Mwangi said he has on several occasions challenged the group to state if it was a religious movement or military outfit "because if they are religious they cannot take away life the way they are beheading people". He said: "When they killed two people towards the end of April in my constituency, I condemned the group in a public rally." According to him, there were MPs who sympathise with the sect "even if they are not members". According to him, four people from Kayole estate in Nairobi were arrested over the killing of a matatu crew in Muranga last weekend.