Dj Vnyash
Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga received a reprieve on Monday, November 11, when the criminal case against him was dropped. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, withdrew the charges, citing insufficient evidence. The prosecution struggled to build a solid case due to the lack of cooperation from 20 out of 28 witnesses.
Njenga, along with 11 others, had been facing several charges, including leading and being a member of the outlawed Mungiki group, coordinating criminal activities, and possessing illegal firearms and drugs. These accusations stemmed from an alleged meeting at Njenga’s house in Wanyororo, Nakuru County, on May 12, 2023, where the group was said to be planning criminal activities.
On the day the case collapsed, Njenga and his legal team were in high spirits at the Nakuru court, with the former leader addressing the crowd during a break. He claimed, “The case will not continue because witnesses have refused to show up. What we are saying is people should stick together. Whoever brought this case forward is stuck because there is no evidence.”
The Mungiki sect, notorious for its involvement in organized criminal activity and political violence, was banned by the government in the early 2000s, leading to prosecution for anyone associated with the group.
The ODPP’s decision to drop the case offers relief to Njenga, who faced the prospect of a long prison sentence if convicted. A bizarre twist in 2023 saw Njenga attempting to prevent the prosecution from using a toy pistol as evidence, which had been seized during a raid on his home by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). DCI officer Athumani Asmani testified that Njenga was noticeably absent when the raid occurred.
