Court Hands Blow To Maina Njenga in Mungiki Case

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has suffered a setback in which he sought to have a Nakuru Court dismiss a case against him.

Njenga had moved to court seeking to have charges against him and 11 other individuals in which he was accused of maintaining links to the outlawed sect dropped.

Nakuru Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion dismissed the case noting that his legal team did not provide sufficient evidence to support their case.

The case had earlier encountered dramatic scenes when the former Mungiki leader's mother-in-law, who was supposed to take an oath, collapsed at the Nakuru Law Courts moments before being called to testify.

A witness in a case against former Mungiki Leader Maina Njenga collapses in court on November 20, 2023. /MAINA NJENGA

The elderly woman had just taken to the dock and was about to take the oath when she claimed that her heart was beating abnormally. She then collapsed and was led out of the courtroom through the private door.

Nakuru Chief Magistrate, Kipkurui Kibelion adjourned the court temporarily for the situation to calm down. The session resumed 10 minutes later with Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) Police Constable Eric Wainaina taking the dock as the second prosecution witness.

The prosecution was set to call 40 witnesses in cases where Maina and 12 others are charged with various offences among them, being members of an outlawed sect, having firearms and preparing to commit a felony.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Githioro area of Wanyororo farm in Bahati Sub-County on May 12, 2023.

The prosecution had detailed that he was alleged to be in possession of offensive weapons that included 14 machetes, 24 Maasai swords, 46 rungus, and three Jembe sticks.

He was also charged with plans to organise an unlawful assembly and procession scheduled to take place within Nairobi City County and other parts of the country, with the prosecution arguing that the weapons were meant to be used in a manner prejudicial to public order.

Njenga was picked up from his home as the government had been silent over where they had been holding him.