Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has reacted angrily to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks about the Mungiki uprising.
Speaking before the Nakuru Law Court yesterday, Njenga, through his lawyers Ndegwa Njiru and Martha Karua, argued that Gachagua’s words on May 28 diminished Kenyans’ opinion of the reformed Mungiki leader, notwithstanding his status as a respectable member of society.
Njiru stated that the country had been through a difficult period when the gang struck, and Kenyans did not want to return to that period.
“The press had attacked our client. As far as our client is concerned, the deputy president made remarks at a function in Thika that were intended to lower the opinion of the right-thinking member of our community. “After what our country has been through, we do not want to go back there,” Njiru remarked.
Karua, for her part, chastised the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for referring to Njenga as an ex-Mungiki commander, and stated that if he presented himself at the headquarters, he would be detained further.
“It was after 1 p.m., and they were going to keep it over the weekend.” “There have been press reports that appear to be biased against the accused, and we want the court to provide guidance,” Karua said.
After pleading not guilty to all seven allegations against him, including assisting an organized criminal group, Njenga was released on Ksh100,000 cash bail and Ksh50,000 bond or surety of the same amount.
He was barred from speaking about the matter in the press or at public meetings.
On Sunday, Gachagua accused Njenga of using the young to profit himself through gang operations, stating that the former Mungiki leader was the sole benefit, having nine houses erected across the country.
