Mungiki unleashed to mobilise support for Ruto Mt Kenya tour

By Newsflash Reporter

As President William Ruto embarks on a significant tour of the Mt Kenya region, an unexpected figure has surfaced in the preparations—former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.

Newsflash has gathered that Njenga’s supporters convened in Ruai, Nairobi, on Sunday to strategize ahead of the President’s visit, which commences on Monday.

Their primary goal is to organize enthusiastic crowds to cheer Ruto at his public engagements while preventing any disruption from dissenters, a trend observed at some of his past events.

The effort aims to reinforce the perception that Ruto maintains a strong political foothold in Mt Kenya while signaling the diminishing influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Grassroots mobilization for Ruto

Although Njenga was unavailable for comment, sources close to him disclosed that over 200 of his followers attended the early morning meeting, which began at 6 a.m., to plan a coordinated reception and “protection” for the President.

“If you don’t want to listen to the President, there’s no need to attend his meeting. We won’t tolerate any disruptions,” a source told Newsflash.

Another insider revealed that decisions from the gathering would be relayed to grassroots groups to ensure widespread mobilization. “The chairman (Njenga) only needs to make one call to bring together over 10,000 people. These individuals will ensure the President’s safety and prevent any attempts to paint the region in a negative light,” the source claimed.

When questioned about possible financial incentives behind the mobilization, the source dismissed the notion, emphasizing that their involvement was driven by duty rather than monetary gain. “Payment is not the priority. In some cases, we do this voluntarily. It’s a crucial mission,” they said.

Njenga denies involvement

However, Njenga’s aide, Simon Macharia, denied any direct involvement in Ruto’s visit, stating that while Njenga has no conflict with the President, he is not engaged in any mobilization efforts. “Those spreading such claims are merely speculating,” Macharia stated.

Njenga vs. Gachagua: The political rivalry

On New Year’s Day, Njenga, who now presents himself as a religious leader, held a prayer gathering at Kabiruini Showground in Nyeri, where he launched a political offensive against Gachagua.

He accused the former Deputy President of attempting to turn the region against Ruto, asserting that Mt Kenya remains aligned with the government despite speculations of political shifts following Gachagua’s impeachment.

“The region stands firmly with the administration. Only one individual has distanced himself from Kenya Kwanza,” he declared, urging the youth to support the government and legislators who backed Gachagua’s removal.

Using a metaphor to reinforce his message, Njenga remarked, “If a single branch of a Mugumo tree falls, it does not mean the entire tree is down.”

Chaos at Nyeri prayer meeting

On January 18, tensions escalated when Njenga and his supporters disrupted an interdenominational prayer meeting in Nyeri that Gachagua was set to attend. The commotion led Gachagua’s wife, Dorcas Rigathi, to leave the event abruptly. Gachagua later accused the government of deploying an outlawed group to interfere with religious functions.

“Unleashing the leader of a banned criminal sect and his followers to disrupt peaceful prayers and defile the altar is the lowest a government can stoop, regardless of its desperation,” Gachagua wrote in a social media post.

Ruto’s allies dismiss allegations

Ruto’s allies in Mt. Kenya have dismissed allegations linking Njenga to the tour’s organization, maintaining that MPs are handling the mobilization and accusing opposition figures of spreading falsehoods.

Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri refuted claims of government collaboration with Mungiki, labeling such assertions as distractions meant to undermine Ruto’s visit.

“For the first time, the region will evaluate Ruto’s leadership based on facts, dispelling propaganda spread among our people,” Kiunjuri said.

He further predicted that Gachagua’s political sway would wane after the tour, as Ruto highlights his administration’s achievements in agriculture and fertilizer distribution.

“Those doubting should attend Ruto’s first rally in my county and see who the real supporters are. They fear exposure because their lies will be unmasked,” Kiunjuri added.

Leaders weigh in on the controversy

A former Mt Kenya governor, who is a staunch Ruto ally, downplayed the controversy, asserting that the President does not require assistance from outlawed groups. “This isn’t Ruto’s first visit here, and it won’t be his last. I don’t understand the fuss,” he remarked, encouraging locals to turn out in large numbers to welcome the President.

However, former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru issued a stark warning. “If Ruto resorts to engaging an outlawed sect to gain access to the region, it will mark his lowest point. It would be absurd for a leader once welcomed like a king with gifts of bananas and goats to now rely on such tactics.”