Clergy endorse former mungiki leader Maina Njenga for Senate seat

Religious leaders and the business community in Laikipia County have endorsed former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga in his bid to vie for the Laikipia Senatorial seat as he rolls up his sleeves to hit the road in his campaigns.

During a meeting in a Nyahururu hotel, the leaders termed Maina as a “changed man of God’ adding that they would rally behind him.

They said that it was time that residents elected a leader from one of their own from the Laikipia region and would represent them better in the Senate.

The over 60 religious leaders under the caucus of the Federation of Indigenous and Evangelical Christian Churches of Kenya (FIECCK) the chairmanship of Rev Johnstone Mwai said that they would rally their followers to vote for Maina Njenga in the coming General Elections.

He said that they would start door-to-door campaigns to popularise the Jubilee Party as well as the Maina candidature.

They however asked residents not to brand the former Mungiki leader as a criminal as he had now reformed.

Peter Migwi said: “Everyone has his or her own past and hence it would not be fair to continue branding Maina as a criminal and instead residents and Kenyans in general need to embrace his new and reformed life.”

Rev Mwai said that Maina had all the qualities of a Senator adding that he should be supported by all.

Maina on his part said that he was now reformed and ready to represent the people of Laikipia under the Jubilee Party.

He urged residents to forget the past and instead focus and concentrate on the future, adding that this should be a call to all residents to unite and embrace peaceful coexistence.

Noting that Laikipia was made up of a multi-ethnic county, Maina said there was a dire need to encourage the local communities to coexist.

He said that he had decided to support the Jubilee Government refuting claims that he was an ally of Cord.

“I had only gone to the lake side for some time since it is part of Kenya. Let the people know that I fully support the president and his deputy. I want to be a guardian of Laikipia people’s money and that is why I will go for the seat,” he said.

He added that CORD Leader Raila Odinga should now shelve his presidential bid since he has failed to capture the seat previously and should now leave the leadership to the youth.

He regretted that the people of Laikipia had suffered for so long, adding that it was now time they voted for fresh blood and at the same time urging them to maintain peace during the campaign period.

By Peter Mwangi