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Sunday, December 22, 2024
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Police Forced to ‘Rescue’ Maina Njenga from Armed Maasai Youths

Police Forced to 'Rescue' Maina Njenga from Armed Maasai Youths
Police Forced to ‘Rescue’ Maina Njenga from Armed Maasai Youths

Tension gripped Kitengela town, Kajiado County when a contingent ofย police officersย came to the rescue of former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga after a group of armed Maasai youths threatened to attack his home.

Hundreds ofย police officers, led by Machakos County Commander Gideon Amala, stormed Mr Njengaโ€™s Nkurunga estateย home atย 12pm and ordered everyone to get out. Scores of mourners wereย campingย at the home awaiting the burial of Njengaโ€™s wife, whoย diedย when the former Mungiki leader together with others were attacked a few weeks ago along the Nakuru-Nyahuru road.

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The burial, supposed to take place Saturday, was eventually postponed after members of the Maasai community warned they would destroy the home if Njenga went ahead with the function.

Before the officers arrived, the Maasai men and youth had takenย positionsย ready to attack their โ€˜enemyโ€™.

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โ€œI am ordering everyone to walk out of this place, we have no time to argue. Move out now now,โ€ ordered Mr Amala, accompanied by the Kajiado Deputy County Commissioner Joel Langat.

The mourners, after refusing to heedย the order, were flushed out by the officers who used batons and whips to push them out of the compound. As the drama ensued, Njenga pleaded with the officers not to harm him but allow him move out peacefully.

โ€œWe have no problem moving out of here because these days we are peace makers and we cannot resist your orders, kindly allow us to move peacefully,โ€ pleaded Njenga.

Addressing journalists outside the premises, Amala said they were not arresting Njenga but assisting him escape danger posed by the armed locals.

โ€œWe have no intention to harm or arrest you. We are only here to protect you from the agitated residents, and to prevent bloodshed,โ€ Amala told Njenga.

Njenga claimed the issue was politicised, and displayed a copy of a leaflet linking him with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga; alleging he was planning to overthrow the Jubilee government.

The evacuation came barely a day afterย the decisionย to postpone the burial was reached on Friday during a meeting between the security team from Athi River sub-county and Njenga.

Athi River sub-county deputy County Commissioner Kodhek Makori said after a long discussion with Njenga, they agreed the burial be called off for security reasons.

Mr Makori said he summoned Njenga after realising there was misunderstanding between him and the community over the burial. โ€œWe are in control of the situation and the community shouldย calm downย to avoid any casualties,โ€ said Makori.

COMMUNITY LEADERS

Maasai community leaders and elders claimed killings in the area and the mass graves uncovered at Empakasi were linked to Mungiki and Njenga was still regarded as the groupโ€™s leader.

โ€œWe as the Maasai community are peaceful and are not on a mission of igniting tribal clashes. We will not allow the burial of Njengaโ€™s people to go on in our motherland regardless of his being the landowner,โ€ said Sapai ole Juma, a Maasai community elder.

The community has also warned the Hope Internal Church, Kitengela not to continueoperating.

Source-standardmedia.co.ke

Police Forced to ‘Rescue’ Maina Njenga from Armed Maasai Youths

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