Mungiki

Mungiki is a banned ethnic organisation^[1] in Kenya. The name (mũngĩkĩ, [mo.ᵑɡe.ke]) means "a united people" or "multitude" in the Kikuyu language.^[2] The religion, which apparently originated in the late 1980s, is secretive and bears some similarity to mystery religions. Specifics of their origin and doctrines are unclear. However, the supposed doctrine of Mungiki incorporates elements of traditional Kikuyu customs and values, promoting a return to African spirituality, communal living, and resistance against post-colonial influences.^[3]

They reject Westernisation and all things that they believe to be trappings of colonialism, including Christianity.^[4] The ideology of the group is characterised by revolutionary rhetoric, Kikuyu traditions, and a disdain for Kenyan modernisation, which is seen as moral corruption.^[3] Mungiki is often referred to as Kenya’s Cosa Nostra, Yakuza, or Kenyan mafia due to its organizational system.^[5] They have been newsworthy for associations with ethnic violence and anti-government resistance.^[6]

^ "Kenyan sect 'beheads' policeman". 17 September 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
^ "Deadly shoot-out with Kenyan sect". 5 June 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
^ ^a ^b McCrummen, Stephanie (2 July 2007). "Brutal Kenyan Sect Aims to Provoke Strife". Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
^ Frederiksen, Bodil Folke (2024-02-11). "Mungiki, Kenya's violent youth gang, serves many purposes: how identity, politics and crime keep it alive". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
^ "World's most dangerous gangs. Mungiki: Advocates of female circumcision and tobacco sniffing". PanARMENIAN.Net. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
^ "5 Notorious Gangs that Terrorized City Streets Around the World". HistoryCollection.co. 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

[news.bbc.co.uk-1] "Kenyan sect 'beheads' policeman". 17 September 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.

[2] "Deadly shoot-out with Kenyan sect". 5 June 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.

[wpost-3] McCrummen, Stephanie (2 July 2007). "Brutal Kenyan Sect Aims to Provoke Strife". Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.

[4] Frederiksen, Bodil Folke (2024-02-11). "Mungiki, Kenya's violent youth gang, serves many purposes: how identity, politics and crime keep it alive". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-09-04.

[5] "World's most dangerous gangs. Mungiki: Advocates of female circumcision and tobacco sniffing". PanARMENIAN.Net. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

[6] "5 Notorious Gangs that Terrorized City Streets Around the World". HistoryCollection.co. 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

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