The Cannibalistic, Child Sacrificing, and Machete Wielding Mungiki Cult, and How Nationalism Can Take a Gruesome Turn
From war lords, to drug kingpins, Cartels, criminals, gangs, serial killers, and ever day psychos, World on Drugs with Steve Furey deep dives into subjects and people other wont. We analyze it through the lens of comedy, to try and see how and why these people/event went down the wrong road. So come join me, Steve Furey and my funny friends to learn about some of the people who stay in the shadows.
This week we have Jesus Trejo on the pod to talk about the Mungiki Tribe/cult in Kenya! As self-appointed heirs to the Mau Mau, the Mungiki claimed a violent anti-capitalist and anti-western view of the world and advocated for Kenya to be remade as a more traditional society. Starting from a good idea, of being proud of their culture and people, it sunk to some very dark places. Beheadings became normal, cannibalism became rumored, and child sacrifices weren't out of the question!
Based out of Los Angeles, born and raised in Long Beach, CA, Jesus Trejo can be seen on "The Late Late Show" with James Corden, "the Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central's "ADAM DEVINE'S HOUSE PARTY", Season 2 of "Stand-Up & Deliver" on Nuvo TV, "Uproarious" on FuseTV, and as a recurring cast member on TBS's sitcom "SULLIVAN & SON" as Javier. In July of 2015, Jesus was picked to participate in the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal as part of Jeff Ross's "ROAST MASTER'S INVITATIONAL", and in 2016 he was tapped to be a NEW FACE for the Just For Laughs Festival. In 2017, Jesus was asked to come back for a third time in a row to JFL, as one of "Variety Magazine's Top 10 Comics To Watch".
with research help from Robin Fitch McCollugh
Sources
Malkhadir, Mohammed. Wave of Beheadings Terrorizes Kenya Before Vote. Associated Press. 24 May 2007. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/05/24/wave-of-beheadings-terrorizes-kenya-before-vote/
An overview of election associated violence in early 2007; by the end of the year violence associated with not only the Mumbiki, but the Kenyan politics in general, would turn into an international crisis
Kingara, Oscar. The Cry of Blood. Wikileaks. https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Kenya:_The_Cry_of_Blood_-_Report_on_Extra-Judicial_Killings_and_Disappearances,_Sep_2008
The report published before the assassination of Oscar Kingara, detailing his investigation into extrajudicial efforts by the police to destroy the Mungiki sect.
Nasongo, Shadrack. Kenya: The Struggle for Democracy. Zed Books. London: 2007.
Includes an overview of the criminal activity of the Mungiki up to 2007, relating it to the wider struggle for democracy and reform in the wake of both colonialism and one party rule.
Lynch, Patrick. Five Gangs that Terrorized Streets Around the World. History Collection. https://historycollection.com/shadows-streets-5-notorious-street-gangs/5/
A very broad overview of the gangs activities, including both its criminal enterprises as well as some of its more extreme cultural practices, such as enforcing female circumcision or wearing dreadlocks.
Walsham, Alexandra. Relics and Remains. Oxford Journals. Oxford: 2010.
An academic study of relics, history, religion and culture, it includes a fantastic portion on the Mungiki, as they relate to the Mau Mau and the Kikuyu ethnic group. Highlights the importance of ethnic identity to the Mungiki’s perception of themselves, rather than crime – a similar phenomenon in many other organized crime syndicates and street gangs.