Pangas for Bibles

Maina Njenga, the leader of an illegal sect widely revered for its gruesome beheadings, has now beseeched his cult followers to be ambassadors of peace, and change their wayward habits.

Mr Njenga said on Sunday that the sect had been associated with various criminal activities in the country and it was time to change that image.

“Not even one of our followers will remain, we will all get saved,” he said as he promised to ensure they (followers) all got Bibles, a far cry from the pangas they are known to wield.

Speaking at the Jesus is Alive Church Ministries where he accepted Christianity; Njenga said his salvation was not political but a sincere search for God and added that being in prison had saved his soul.

“I am now saved and Jesus is my saviour. There are four people who died in an accident on their way to visit me in Naivasha GK prison and I said that because I am saved, the burial will be conducted by the church,” he said.

“The Bishop (Margaret Wanjiru) will now organise when this will be done,” Mr Njenga added.

He also said he and his followers would be baptised in the church on a later date.

“I will now be a church elder and the Bishop will tell me what activities she wants me to get involved in; even if it is ushering I am ready,” he said.

The Mungiki leader was freed on Friday after the Attorney General entered a Nolle Prosequi on a case where he was accused of allegedly ordering the massacre of 29 people in Karatina, Nyeri District, by members of the outlawed sect.

Mr Njenga had been re-arrested in April this year moments after he was released by the High Court, following a successful appeal against a five year jail term for alleged illegal possession of marijuana and a firearm.

He called on his followers who also got saved at the church to be wary of politicians who give them huge amounts of money during elections to cause chaos.

“I used to teach you to pray facing Mt. Kenya but now I want you to worship Christ. There are some who are saying I have joined a church that is led by a woman but in Christianity there is no male or female, we are all equal,” Mr Njenga said.

During the church service, hundreds of his followers said they had also got saved and surrendered paraphernalia before they were prayed for by Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, who is also the Housing Assistant Minister.

During the service, the Assistant Minister accused some leaders of politicising the multi-billion shilling Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative.

Bishop Wanjiru said that this had left many youth, who were supposed to benefit from the project, jobless.

“The initiative is a good one and should not go down because of political reasons,” she stressed.

Kazi Kwa Vijana is a Sh15 billion programme launched by President Mwai Kibaki in March this year and geared towards creating 300,000 jobs for young Kenyans in six months.

The Assistant Minister meanwhile called on Kenyans to keep peace and shun tribalism, which she said was killing this nation.