War on Mungiki

The Kenyan government promised Mungiki a no holds-barred struggle, and in the last month, the police have lived up to their word.

Every single day, tens of Kenyans are injured or killed in violence that the media attributes to the Mungiki phenomenon. In our question of the week, we ask your opinions on the violence, and on the extra-judicial response of the state. Is oath-taking in itself a reason for police executions? We also show video from some of the affected areas, with frog-marches and whole neighbourhoods of wananchi are forced to lie on their bellies as interrogations are carried out. Reminisces of the Emergency? You decide.

Watch the videos and join in on the discussion here.

The Case AGAINST Military Draft in Kenya

Kimani S. Njoroge argues against a previous author's suggestion that Kenya should invest in a mandatory military draft for its youth. Kimani argues that such a venture is not only socially, but also economically irresponsible.

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African Leadership Academy

Patience Wanga on why the premise of an African leadership educational institution misses the mark.

Moreover, these top schools have sent kids to Ivy League colleges in the US before, colleges that supposedly churn leaders. I have not heard of any that is turning heads for having put to use the skills and super education received from these famous schools.

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Why Kenya Needs a Military Draft

Dave Nyambati proposes a compulsory military draft in Kenya to make use of the increasing number of unemployed youth.

The current work force can only absorb so many high school graduates and the jua kali opportunities are limited. This could spiral into a situation where we have whole generations who feel disenfranchised and indifferent towards the idea of a common Kenyan brotherhood. The government has to find a way to turn these unaccommodated youth into responsible adults and upstanding citizens or risk loosing control of an already fragile situation with subversive ideologies like the Mungiki's taking hold.

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Of Bombs

L. Akitelek Papakemus on today's bomb blast in Nairobi.

Today, as news of this morning's bombing in the central business district unravels, though alarmingly inaccurate, I find I no longer have a stomach for violence. I feel like I’ve been trying to drink the sea. It is simply too much.

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How to Stop Mungiki

Beryl Ogolla wonders how the government and citizens of Kenya can stop Mungiki on its tracks. In a discussion with a friend, she proposes that they are all killed. However, when he friend tells her that war on the Mungiki is akin to starting a civil war, she begins to question her proposal.

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turning into Mungiki

Wanjiku Micui through Kamaa narrates the birth of a Mungiki gang member.

"So it was that Kamaa found employment with Mungiki, and after that a wife and children. From his fraction of the proceeds the group had gained from the matatu routes and other businesses, he was able to gain the life his previous job had denied him. But it was not all easy on his conscience, one day they raided one big shop in the town at about 7 pm. His group raped the owner's wife and his two daughters as he watched. The town was silenced, not even the police could do anything. Then was when the rain started beating down on us."

Read more here.

Hyping up the Law

The Commissioner of the Kenya Police, taking a break from a campaign to bring peace to our streets has made it an offence to be disrespectful towards the President.

The Commissioner's statement was targeted at our politicians, who even the deafest Kenyan must concede comprise people who would do us a national favour by forever holding their peace. This spirit of national reticence however must best extend to Vigilance House for if the Commissioner knows anything, he should know that his was the sort of empty talk that is best suited for politicians, not for civil servants of office as high as his.

Amir Ibrahim on the Kenya Police, "Even greater is the danger that the Kenya Police are portrayed as being anti-politicians, or pro-government. It is this more than anything that the Police Commissioner should worry about."

Read the rest here.

Mungiki-- the video

Members of the Mungiki sect were back in the public arena again last week. As is often the case, their encounter with the public was not a pleasant one.

In the most recent news, the group has been in the spotlight for run-ins with other tribe based gangs, with matatu touts and with the Kenya Police. Comprising hundreds, some say up to two million youths from the Mount Kenya region, the movement claims to be against the western slant of Kenyan society. It seeks its inspiration from traditional religion and the ways of the Agikuyu ancestors.

kenyaImagine's editorial team has acquired a video showing the terror this gang has brought to wananchi. (allow time for the video to buffer)