Some members of the Masai community have threatened to block the burial of those who died last month when unknown gunmen attacked former Mungiki leader Maina Njengaโs motorcade on Nyahururu-Ol Kalau Road. The burials of Mainaโs wife Grace Nyambere, and three others, were scheduled for this Saturday at his Nkurrunka home, Kitengela, where Cord leader Raila Odinga was among the guests expected to attend.
Tension is high as hundreds of members of the Maasai community have camped a kilometre from Njengaโs home to block the burials. Security officers including those of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are also camping in the area. Led by elders, the community have accused Mungiki of being responsible for the recent killings that saw mass graves being uncovered in Empakasi area of Kitengela.
They also accuse Njenga of hiding behind the Hope Internal Church yet he still leads the murderous group. In a heated meeting attended by security agencies from Machakos and Kajiado counties yesterday, the elders threatened to take stern action if the burials are allowed to go on. โNjenga is the legal owner of the piece of land he intends to bury his people on, but we oppose the burial.
We had never seen mass graves until recently when Njenga built a church here,โโ said Willam Kasio a Maasai elder. Peace committee chairperson Sapai Lejuma said the community is ready to refund the value of Njengaโs land and property. โAlthough we have sold the land to him, we will not allow him to use it to carry out his activities,โ he said.