Terror, Religion, or Socialism?: The Faces of MỦngỈkỈ Sect in The Kenyan Public Space

Abstract

This paper examines how Mủngỉkỉ members have used the sect in the public space as a tool of emancipation. In the paper I argue that Mủngỉkỉ has been using different faces in terms of religion, names, and approaches, to appear in the public and appropriate their goals. Though their initial goal was to propagate socialism, the mandate of Mủngỉkỉ in the Kenyan Public space has been perceived as that of a terror group. Their terror activities in most occasions have happened with great oversight from the government and the question that lingers in the minds of many is whether the government is in support of the movement or just overwhelmed by the Mủngỉkỉ masses. The findings of the study on the one hand indicate that though true ‘Word’ according to most religions is meant to propagate peaceful and abundant life, especially among the poor, the ‘gospel’ of Mủngỉkỉ instills fear and pain to people, both rich and poor for various reasons. On the other hand, if Mủngỉkỉ is a social movement designed to proliferate socialism among the poor citizenry, then their approach is not by any means approved, following the tenets of socialism theories. Being a very stable religious/social and political movement, the fear of many Kenyans is that the future of the group still looks bright, and the lives of many Kenyans continue to be in danger.