Maina Njenga Produced In Court, Charged With Possession Of Weapons

UPDATE: Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga will spend another night behind bars at Industrial Area Prisons in Nairobi after his bail ruling was pushed to Tuesday, July 25 at 9 am.

The prosecution had opposed the release of Maina Njenga alongside his two co-accused arguing that his life may be in danger.

Njenga was charged at the Makadara Law Courts on Monday, alongside his brother Peter Njoroge and aide Felix Lakishe. They are facing at least five counts, among them being in possession of offensive weapons, trafficking narcotics, and subversive activities.

Former Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga, was on Monday, July 24 produced at the Makadara Law Courts, four days after his arrest by police.

Njenga was charged with possession of offensive weapons following the raid at his Kiserian home that led to his arrest.

The prosecution had detailed that he was alleged to be in possession of offensive weapons that include 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.

“John Maina Njenga, Peter Njoroge Kamunya, Felix Ratu Lakishe: On the 20th day of July 2023 at Kiserian area within Kajiado County jointly organized an unlawful assembly and procession scheduled to take place within Nairobi City County and other parts within the Republic of Kenya,” the prosecutor argued.

The former Mungiki leader is also being held as a prime suspect in the alleged gun circulation plan but was not charged with the alleged offence.

Njenga was picked up from his home last week as the government has been silent over where they have been holding him. He was arrested on Thursday, July 20 alongside his two brothers and his personal assistant.

The family had indicated that he was at his father's house when police in unmarked cards arrived at about 8 pm and arrested him, indicating earlier that they wanted to question him over ongoing anti-government protests in the country organised by Azimio la Umoja.

Njenga's father had complained that the police assaulted Njenga and others without reason.

“This is against human rights. It is bad for police to storm home, and beat people without any reason,” his father complained.

"The days of detention without trial are here with us. My client Maina Njenga is still missing. He was abducted by police whose Subarus had a South Sudan registration number. He was never booked in any police station."

Njenga was among a list of high-profile individuals arrested during the three days of demonstrations by Azimio. Others included Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Mathare MP Antony Oluoch, Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, Kilifi County Speaker Teddy Mwambire, and Mabatini MCA Wilfred Odallo among others.

The leaders are considered key to Raila Odinga's enhancing of his political influence in the country and were rounded up over fear of the protests escalating to dangerous levels, according to reports.

Former Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga, during a past court session. /STANDARD DIGITAL