We Have No Links With Mungiki, Nairobi Business Community Says

Nairobi Business Community, a lobby group that shot to the limelight after their dreadlocked members came out to openly oppose ongoing opposition's anti-IEBC protests has refuted claims that it is connected to outlawed Mungiki sect.

While a section of Kenyans on social media has lauded its operations, another group calling itself Nairobi Business Community raised questions on their physical appearance and utterances of their members.

Its Chairman Wilfred Kamau, has defended its members, saying that it has no links with Mungiki, s group well known for its illegal operations including killings.

“Dreadlocks cannot be said to be an identity of Mungiki. That would mean that Maina Njenga and Ndura Waruingi, who were the founders, were not actually Mungiki because they did not have dreadlocks. It would also mean (gospel musician) Juliani and Ugandan musician Chameleone are Mungiki. People are being simplistic here,” he said.

He said members own businesses along Kirinyaga and River road, and their businesses were affected in the past during demos by the opposition supporters.

“There is no definition of a businessman. Even the man selling groundnuts qualifies as one. Don’t think it is only big insurance owners and bank owners who are businessmen. We also have interests in this city,” said Kamau, who said he owns a spare parts shop along Kirinyaga Road and imports other wares from Dubai.

He also dismissed claims that Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is their patron, but said if he qualifies to be, they will admit him.

“We are open though and if he has what it takes to be our patron we will sit down and agree,” he said.

Charles Mwangi, another member of the group whom some social media users described as a police officer, said he is a resident of Kibera’s Laini Saba.

“Our businesses are not even insured. Once you steal from us, where will we get food for our children?” asked Mwangi, who said he shoots videos and has a shop on River Road.