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Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has distanced himself and his administration from claims of sponsoring goons who hijacked Tuesday’s protests.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Sakaja affirmed that the city leadership has no ties to gangs, militias, or politically backed groups that exploited the demonstrations to commit criminal acts, including vandalism, looting, and arson.
“We categorically dissociate ourselves from any gangs, militias, or politically sponsored groups that exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activity,” the governor stated.
Sakaja said the destruction witnessed during last Thursday’s and Tuesday’s protests was carried out by hired goons brought in from outside Nairobi.
He estimated the losses to be in the billions of shillings, warning that criminal elements had taken advantage of otherwise legitimate protests to destabilise the city.
“I am deeply concerned by the scenes of vandalism, looting, and destruction of property that have marred Nairobi in recent days. Businesses built over years of sacrifice have been vandalised, and public infrastructure paid for by taxpayers destroyed,” he said.
The governor called on the National Police Service to act firmly and fairly in arresting and prosecuting all those involved in criminal activities, warning that failure to do so could lead citizens to take justice into their own hands.
While reaffirming the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 37, Sakaja reminded Kenyans that this right does not supersede the freedom of others to live and work in a safe environment.
“We will not allow criminal elements to hijack our democratic space,” he said, urging young people not to be misused by those weaponising protests for political or criminal gain.
Sakaja also condemned the shooting of hawker Boniface Kariuki by a police officer during Tuesday’s protests and called on authorities to expedite investigations into the incident.
