What have the politics of the Mûngîkî to do with power in religion? Not much at first hand, but quite a bit if one stops to think about it. Why is the Government not happy with this sect which is trying to persuade people to go back to the religion of their ancestors? For obvious reasons: the Mungiki represent, dressed up in the garb of religion, the power of those who are discontent with the present political order in Kenya, an order which people of the main stream religions have helped to perpetuate. If this power it not to get out of hand, it will be unwise to ignore what this sect is trying to get across. Origin and History of the Mûngîkî Mûngîkî is a Gikuyu word that is derived from the word mûingî, which mean masses. Mûngîkî refers to a religio- political movement composed mainly of youth of Gikuyu origin, aged 18-40. (However, there are exceptional cases of those in the 40-60-age bracket.) Most of these people are victims of the ethnic conflicts that erupted on the eve of the 1992 multi-party general election in Kenya. Educationally, the majority of these people are Standard Eight and Form Four school-leavers. Most of them are low-income earners in the jua-kali note sector. The group strongly resents accumulation of massive wealth by a few Kenyans, especially those in the top political ranks. They argue that this is done at the expense of the masses who are thus made landless and/or jobless. In a very practical way, the Mûngîkî oppose unfair and unjust practices in the society by sharing among themselves the few resources that they have. Initially, the aim of the Mûngîkî was to sensitize people against the government which they accused of starting and fuelling the ethnic clashes. The sect started administering oaths to its members during the time of the clashes in the hope that they would become united in fighting back their attackers. This move alarmed the government, with the consequence that, ever since the police have been watchful of any public or private Mûngîkî assemblies and sometimes arrested its followers. Waruinge co-founded the Mûngîkî sect with six other youngsters in 1987 when he was only 15 years. At the time he was in Form One at Molo Secondary School. Due to the oppression of the one-party government, the movement remained underground until the advent of multi- parties in 1992. According to Waruinge, the group consulted ex-Mau Mau generals in Laikipia and Nyandarua districts who approved of their plans. Mûngîkî followers affirm that theirs is a religious and not a political movement. The sect has, however, clearly acquired impetus from recent political events. A discussion with any Mûngîkî member hardly carries on for five minutes without spontaneously deviating into the politics of contemporary Kenya. The members lament bitterly about KANUs machinations that split the original Forum of Restoration for Democracy (FORD) party when it was all set to remove KANU from power. The Mûngîkî also criticize the widespread political oppression, poverty and violence experienced by Kenyans at the hand of government agents in the same breath as they condemn cultural and religious imperialism. The sect has elicited condemnation on the part of religious leaders and government officials. On several occasions the local dailies have reported scenes where the Mûngîkî have clashed with government authorities. In particular, President Moi has repeatedly accused the sect of taking binding oaths in order to overthrow his Government. On a number of occasions, followers have appeared in court accused of oath taking and of unspecified illegal activities, only to be discharged the following day for lack of evidence. So concerned is the KANU government about the sect that more than once, Kihika Kimani, the MP for Molo, has paraded a group of dreadlocked youths at presidential rallies in Nakuru town, introducing them as repentant Mûngîkî followers. However, the sects national leadership denounces the so-called defectors as impostors who are being used for selfish political gain. According to the oath of allegiance, membership in Mûngîkî is irreversible.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 13:38:23 +0000
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