His journey traces the rise of one of Kenya’s most controversial movements Mungiki.and raises difficult questions about radicalisation, justice, and the possibility of redemption.
A Movement Born From Frustration
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mungiki began emerging among unemployed and marginalized youth in parts of Central Kenya and informal settlements in Nairobi.
At the time, the group was initially presented as a self-help initiative focused on economic survival and cultural identity.
According to Waruinge, the idea started in a surprisingly simple way. A small group of young men including himself and a cousin began pooling money from small activities and informal games. Over time, the savings grew, attracting more young people who were looking for both opportunity and belonging.
“We believed we were fighting for dignity and protecting our culture,” he has said in past interviews.
But what began as a grassroots movement soon took a darker path.
From Cultural Movement to Fearsome Organization
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, authorities linked Mungiki to violent crimes, including forced oaths, extortion networks, control of public transport routes, and brutal killings. The group’s name quickly became associated with organized crime and intimidation in many urban areas.
As one of its founders, Waruinge became one of the most hunted men in the country.
According to his own account, his life turned into a constant battle for survival. He claims he was arrested 52 times, survived 12 gunshot incidents, and endured nine poisoning attempts.
Facing Death Row
Eventually, the law caught up with him.
Waruinge was arrested and prosecuted over violent crimes connected to the sect’s activities. At one point, a court sentenced him to death by hanging.
He has since described the psychological weight of living under a death sentence.
“You wake up every day knowing the government believes your life should end,” he once recalled.
In a dramatic twist he often recounts, he says that during one scheduled execution attempt, the hanging equipment failed to function an event he later interpreted as a sign that his life still had purpose.
A Turn Toward Faith
After years of living in fear, prison, and constant confrontation with the law, Waruinge says his life took a different direction through religion.
He credits a prayer from James Ng'ang'a with helping him find a new path. His transition from militant leader to preacher did not happen overnight, but he says it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Freedom, however, came with challenges. Years behind bars had deeply affected his family, especially children who grew up without their father.
A New Mission
Today, Waruinge says his focus has shifted to youth mentorship, prison ministry, and warning young people about the dangers of joining violent groups.
His message often centers on the consequences of crime and the importance of making different choices.
Still, the legacy of Mungiki remains painful for many Kenyans. Communities affected by the group’s violence continue to carry memories of fear, extortion, and loss.
Life as a Father
Away from the spotlight, Waruinge describes himself primarily as a father. He says he has 25 children and remains committed to supporting them, even though he is no longer in relationships with their mothers.
Some of the mothers remarried or moved abroad, but he says he chose to take responsibility for raising the children.
His goal now, he explains, is to teach them lessons drawn from his past.
“I tell them that some of the things I did were wrong,” he has said. “But I want them to learn from my story and choose a better path.”
A Story Still Sparking Debate
Waruinge’s life continues to spark debate in Kenya. For some, his story is an example of rehabilitation and second chances. For others, the scars left by Mungiki’s violent years remain too deep to overlook.
Yet his journey from underground leader to preacher remains one of the most dramatic personal transformations in Kenya’s recent history.
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