Casper Waithaka
29 April 2008
Nairobi — The chairman of Mungiki's political wing was gunned down near Nairobi on Monday.
Mr Charles Ndungu Wagaca, of the Kenya National Youth Alliance (KNYA), was killed together with his driver on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway near Uplands. The driver was identified as Naftali Irungu.
Mr Wagaca was a brother of Virginia Nyakio, the wife of the outlawed sect's jailed spiritual leader Maina Njenga, whose killing early in the month sparked riots by Mungiki adherents in Nairobi and other major towns.
More than 10 people were killed and property worth millions of shillings was destroyed in the mayhem.
Looked like thugs
On Monday, KNYA spokesman Njuguna Gitau Njuguna pointed an accusing finger at the police over the latest killings but a witness at the scene said though the killers claimed they were police "they looked like thugs."
There have been suggestions that the killings are a result of a leadership split in the sect, with one faction being led by Njenga and the other by former national coordinator Ndura Waruinge.
Before Monday's killings, Mr Njuguna had called the Nation saying that their leader was being trailed by police vehicles.
At around 2 pm he sent a text message to the Nation which read: "We fear they have been shot at Kwa Mathore along the Naivasha highway."
At the scene, two lifeless bodies were found in a white Toyota saloon car which had been sprayed with bullets.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Bernard Ndabu, Mr Wagaca's driver lost control of the car during a high-speed chase involving three vehicles. The vehicle landed in a ditch near the road and a man from one of the pursuing vehicles came out and shot the two men twice each.
He was then heard saying: "Pumbavu mlikuwa mnadhani mnaenda wapi? (Idiots, where did you think you were going)" said Mr Ndabu, who was tending crops at his roadside farm.
Mr Ndabu rushed to the scene and, on confronting the attackers, was told that they were police and there was no cause for alarm.
Asked whether they looked like policemen, Mr Ndabu said: "No, they looked like ordinary thugs but were confident ... they seemed very happy after accomplishing the mission."
The witness said the killer opened the boot of Mr Wagacu's car and took away a briefcase before driving off.
The Nation team confirmed the identity of the chairman after police granted permission to look at a driver's licence retrieved at the scene. Among other personal items retrieved at the scene was Sh6,000, a wallet and two mobile phones.
Earlier, the KNYA spokesman dispelled rumours that the sect would be staging mass protests this week over the abduction of some of its key leaders last week.
Mr Njuguna dismissed the rumours as a police gimmick to destabilise the organisation.
"Most of our leaders and members are living in fear as the Government continues to kidnap and kill them," he said.
"Njoroge Gicheru, who was in charge of the Eastlands area was kidnapped on Tuesday last week and we have not heard from him since," said Mr Njuguna.
He also said that John Maina in charge of Lang'ata area had been kidnapped of Friday on his way home.
"Staging protests would be uncalled for at this juncture since plans to hold talks with the Government are underway as the prime minister, Raila Odinga promised," said Mr Njuguna.
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