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Kenya: Munguki cult including founding date, membership cards, location, tribal affiliation, agenda and beliefs, position of FGM, and how it is perceived by Kenyan authorities

Munguki is reportedly a "religious" sect led by Ibrahim Ndura Waruinge

(The East African Standard, 18 Nov. 2001; ibid. 12 Nov. 2001; NDIMA, 9 Jan. 2001). Its "membership mainly consists of young unemployed Kenyans, with nothing or little to lose ... with or without the assistance of the establishment, they have the potential to wreak untold havoc, especially in Nairobi" (The East African Standard 18 Nov. 2001). Munguki also claims to belong to the Muslim faith (ibid. 30 Dec. 2000). A religious leader of a Catholic Church in Nairobi reportedly charged that "Mungiki had launched a campaign of terror against police and innocent people while residents of Moyale [northern Kenya] were living in fear" (The Nation 22 Jan. 2001).

According to The Nation,

Mungiki is a quasi-political/religious cult in Kenya. It behaves like a gang of criminals ... [it is] currently banned in Kenya ...

Mungiki disciples claim it is a ''homegrown'' religious organisation committed to upholding the traditional ''African way of worship, culture and lifestyle,'' according to its national coordinator, Mr. Ndura Waruinge (24 Apr. 2000).

Its members, he believes, are genuine citizens disillusioned with perceived misrule and now crusade for a meaningful change in the running of the country's affairs.

Mungiki's genesis is as clouded as the sect's cause. But reports indicate this shadowy group, whose members wear dreadlocks, emerged in 1985.

Around the same time, the crusade for multipartyism and better governance, symbolised by Mwakenya, was nearing its peak. The group, however, only came to the limelight a few years ago.

Mungiki's tenets centre on chastity and African values. It professes female circumcision and the traditional Kikuyu way of worship - praying facing Mt Kenya. It also believes in oathing and sacrifices ...

Mungiki's propensity for violence is what has placed the sect in sharp focus. To an extent, Mungiki has become a by-word for thuggery.

The sect has always left a trail of arson, forced oathing and forced circumcision in its wake. Its operations have centred on Central Province, especially in Nyeri, Nakuru and Laikipia districts. Its exact membership remains unknown.

A recent report by an international news station drew parallels between Mungiki and the Mau Mau, the pre-independence movement that arguably forced out colonialists of Kenya in the 1950s

According to the Sidney Morning Herald, Thousands of young Kenyans, inspired by the bloody Mau Mau rebellion that fought British colonial rule, are flocking to an aggressive religious cult that rejects the trappings of Western culture (17 Jan. 2000)

Followers of the so-called Mungiki youth sect, whose 300,000 members see themselves as ''the true sons of the Mau Mau'', decry what they regard as the more degenerate aspects of Western culture, including cinemas, alcohol, tobacco and miniskirts (ibid.).

Last year, "Waruinge ... announced plans by the sect to field candidates for elective positions, including the presidency" in the 2002 election (The East African Standard 12 Nov. 2001). According to Waruinge, "the Mungiki sect has raised a total of Sh800 million (approximately US$ 10 million) through members' contributions. The sect, he said, has a membership of 4.4 million, with each member contributing Sh10 shillings each month (ibid.).

In November 2001, "Ibrahim Ndura Wariungi alias Noriega" was reportedly charged with promoting warlike activities on 23 July 2001 and also "with promoting warlike undertakings on diverse dates between October 15 and November 19 by making preparations and aiding warlike activities against Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) [a local transport company] members and the general public" (ibid. 27 Nov. 2001). He reportedly denied the charges and was "released on a Sh500,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount" (ibid.).

No information on membership cards or tribal affiliation could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The East African Standard [Nairobi]. 27 November 2001. Wambua Kavila. "Munguki Boss Charged in Machakos." <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200111270185.html> [Accessed: 31 Jan. 2002]

_____. 18 November 2001. Is Mungiki a Religious Sect or Political Body?" (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 12 November 2001. Dennis Sanjay and Athman Amran. "Munguki Eye More Routes." <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200111120341.html> [Accessed: 31 Jan. 2002]

_____. 30 December 2000. "Kenya: Mungiki Leader Gives Press Conference After Release from Prison." (BBC Summary 30 Dec. 2000/NEXIS)

The Nation [Nairobi]. 22 January. 2001. J.Sekoh-Ochieng. "Kenya: Terror Blamed on Government." (NEXIS)

Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA). 9 January 2001. "Kenya: Journalist Injured During Attack By Sect Members." (Africa News/NEXIS)

The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 January 2000. "Mungiki." <http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/m09.html> [Accessed: 31 Jan. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]

Resource Centre Country File.

IRB Databases

Search engines including:

Google

Mamma

Topics: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),