Mutua: Allegations of mungiki meetings at state house incorrect

Written By:KNA,    Posted: Fri, Feb 03, 2012

Dr. Mutua said the meeting was open and clear, held to discuss legal and youth issues and was extensively covered by the media The government has denied allegations made in local media following the last ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that a meeting was held at State House Nairobi featuring members of the outlawed criminal gang ‘Mungiki'. Government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua on Thursday said the youth who attended the said meeting on November 26th 2007 between 9.00am to 12pm have come out openly stating that they are not members of ‘Mungiki' and do not fit profile of an outlawed group. Speaking during a press briefing at his Bima Towers offices in Mombasa, Dr. Mutua clarified that the meeting held on November 26th 2007 was a formal public meeting which was recorded on video and even afterwards a photo session of the president with the visiting youth was held. He further explained that the meeting was open and clear, held to discuss legal and youth issues and was extensively covered by the media. The youths representing various tribes had come from different parts from our country, and were accompanied by minister of youth, permanent secretary in the youth ministry, and directors among other officials he emphasized. "It is therefore ridiculous, preposterous and insulting for anyone to claim that the youth visiting the president in state house accompanied by high profile government officials can be accused of holding a clandestine mungiki meeting" said the government spokesman. Anyone doing so fails to understand how Kenya functions and who Mungiki are or has been drawn into an orchestrated smear campaign against the president that has no basis of reality he commented. Additionally he said that it is illogical for anyone to state that the president held the alleged state house mungiki meeting to plan so-called ‘revenge attacks' in November 2007 as the elections were to be held in December of the same year. On the same note, he urged Kenyans to maintain unity and tolerance as the country approaches the next general elections adding that Kenyans are capable of coexisting despite our diversity. At the same time, Mutua said the government has reiterated that it will not tolerate any acts of terrorism and urged Kenyans to dutifully report any suspicious incidences. Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said that thorough investigations into alleged collaboration of Kenyan military officers with the Al Shabaab will be carried out to root out the perpetrators. Dr. Mutua further said that these perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law. "This infiltration by Al Shabaab militia through our Kenyan forces is a high breach of security and the government will do everything within its power to stop such incidences immediately" he clearly stated. He urged Kenyans to continually work together with the government in supporting the ‘justified war' which will give a voice to the innocent people of Somalia. He also pointed out that casualties rate is now lower as the war is proceeding. However the major challenge has been the support offered to the Al Shabaab militia by people who are aiding and abating terrorism activities. More terrorism corroborators have been arrested to date and the government has emphasized its zero tolerance on terrorism said Dr. Mutua. He therefore urged residents to convey information that will lead to the arrest of more terrorism sympathizers and supporters to the relevant authorities