Police Tell Mungiki: We're Ready for You

The East African Standard (Nairobi)/July 7, 2002
By Joseph Murimi and Evelyne Ogutu

Security has been beefed up in Kiambu District where followers of the unregistered Mungiki sect have threatened to forcibly circumcise women today.

Central Provincial Police Officer (PPO) Enock Cheserek yesterday said police are on high alert to ensure no woman is hurt by the sect members.

The PPO said tight security measures have been put in place to ensure that the activities do not occur and assured the women in the district to go about their business without fear.

He said police have intercepted leaflets which are being circulated in the district, where the sect members have threatened to invade girls' schools and circumcise the female students on July 7.

An unsigned leaflet, which the PPO availed to the Press, said the sect members will invade churches, schools and even homes to conduct the "cleansing ceremonies".

According to the statement, the sect members threatened to circumcise all the Kikuyu women in Kiambu aged between 18 and 40 years of age.

The group alleged that they were sent by God in a dream, to 'cleanse' the Kikuyu community from the social evils that had invaded the community.

They attributed the rise HIV/Aids pandemic to women who are not circumcised, saying they are more vulnerable to the disease.

They further threatened to launch tougher campaign against those who are against the activity saying they were a disgrace to the society.

They threatened to start with Hon Beth Mugo, Martha Karua and one of the Constitution of Kenya Review commissioner, Dr Wanjiku Kabira.

"They are not mature hence they need to set a good example to the fellow women by being circumcised," the statement read in part.

Chesereck, said police officers have been sent to various girls schools in the district to beef up the security adding that they have been instructed to deal ruthlessly with any sect members they came across.

He said the sect members had sent leaflets to many schools in the district and lamented the activities of the sect in the province.