Mohammed Maina Njenga and Ibrahim Ndura Waruinge could be any two young Kenyans trying to make a living. Simply dressed and unassuming, there is little outward indication that they are the faces behind, Mungiki.
Njenga, 29, and Waruinge, 28, come across as polite, courteous young men. None of the wild-eyed, fire-breathing proselytes one might expect of the spiritual leader and national coordinator, respectively, of the movement.
Of the two, Waruinge is the better known. He is the constant presence in the thick of things at Mungiki rallies and confrontations with the police.
The more reserved Njenga, however, is the chairman and spiritual leader of a movement. He weaves a fantastic story of how he got to be in this position.
The movement, says Njenga Ð sometimes referred to as "bishop" Ð began in 1987, when several people, complete strangers, "experienced a series of visions".
His story begins at Jomo Kenyatta High School, Nakuru, when a dove landed on his head. He was only 16, he says.
The story in his own words: "We were in class when a dove flew into the room and landed on my head. I chased it away but it came back and again I chased it away.
"When it came for the third time and landed on my head, everybody, including the teacher took to their heels, leaving me alone.
"I was dumbfounded and blinded, until a beam of light appeared in the background. I could clearly see some words written in bold letters.
"As I tried to read them, a loud clear voice read them out for me: 'This is the voice of the Almighty God. I have heard the cries of my people. I am going to liberate them. Be ready for a great mission.'
"That night, I couldn't sleep. In the dark of the night, my room was suddenly filled with light and a person in a traditional headgear, a skin cloth threaded with beads wrapped around his waist and holding a fly whisk appeared.
"The man took my hand and that was the beginning of the long journey to what was believed to be the Kikuyu "Garden of Eden" at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, Murang'a.
"I heard the voice of the almighty again and was also blessed by legendary Kikuyu prophets like Mugo wa Kibiru and Waiyaki wa Hinga.
"The climax of the four-day ordeal, I was rolled down to earth by a ball made of shining stars. When the ball finally reached the earth, I opened my eyes to find myself in a coffin. The coffin split open and everybody around fled.
"For two weeks, I was taught how to preach and the gist of it was about the return of the Kikuyu to their cultural roots."
Other people who were to become the founder members are reported to have had similar visions and were miraculously brought together. The movement was born.
Raising eyebrows
Before that, they claim, none knew the other.
Njenga went to school in Ortum Secondary, West Pokot District, but transferred to complete his Ordinary level education at Jomo Kenyatta after about two years.
The national co-ordinator, Waruinge, says the leaders started preaching the ideals of the movement in Nakuru, Laikipia and later in Nyeri. Then the Government and the Church started raising eyebrows.
Waruinge says although the movement supports cultural values of all communities, it abhors primitive ones like the circumcision of women.
This is in sharp contrast to what Mungiki members are reported to have done in various parts of Central Province. They first came to national attention after widespread reports, unconfirmed, that they were practising forcible circumcision of women and also forcing people into gruesome oathing ceremonies.
Waruinge, born in 1973 in Molo, attended Karitu Primary School, Kericho, from 1980 and later Cardinal Otunga and Molo secondary schools.
He says the movement now wants to encompass politics in its activities. It has already caused a stir in the last two weeks through well-attended rallies in Thika and Nairobi which were not violently dispersed by police as before.
He has already expressed interest in the Molo parliamentary seat now held by Mr Kihika Kimani. He won't say on which party he will seek sponsorship, but affirms that Mungiki will field candidates in at least 150 constituencies across the country.
He also says, with a straight face, that the movement has already raised Sh800 million out of a targeted Sh3 billion to fund its participation in electoral campaigns. He says the money is largely from members contributions, claiming, again without batting an eyelid, a membership roll of over 4.5 million (more than twice the vote secured by President Moi at the last election).
The movement, says Waruinge, is led by a 12-member board of governors and an equal number of directors, together with national governing council of 100 people.
Mungiki is not registered and neither does it intend to seek registration. Neither does it have a formal headquarters or place of worship.
Members are mostly recognised by their dreadlocks in emulation of the Mau Mau freedom fighters.
Njenga dismisses claims that Mungiki inducts members using chilling Mau Mau-type oathing ceremonies which incorporate blood and raw meat. But Njenga and Waruinge, who adopted names Mohammed and Ibrahim, respectively, on adopting Islam, say such stories are hate propaganda.
One prominent non-Kikuyu to have gone through the Mungiki initiation rites is former Safina secretary-general Mwandawiro Mghanga. He is the only public figure to have been openly associated with Mungiki.