NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied claims that he hired goons to disrupt peaceful protests in the city on Tuesday, June 17, insisting he was outside Nairobi at the time.
The allegations, widely circulated on social media, accused Sakaja of holding a secret meeting on Sunday, June 15, with Bunge la Mwananchi figurehead Calvin “Gaucho” Okoth and political mobiliser Swaleh Sonko.
The meeting allegedly involved a Sh2 million deal to mobilise gangs to infiltrate and sabotage demonstrations demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat over the death of teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Sakaja, however, dismissed the accusations as “blatant lies,” stating he was attending a church service in Lugari, Kakamega County, and only returned to Nairobi the following day.
“Such blatant lies. On Sunday, I was in Lugari for Church and came back to Nairobi on Monday afternoon through Kitale via Skywards. Ticket below,” Sakaja wrote on X, attaching a screenshot of his flight booking.
He added: “I have not seen Gaucho since he attended the Mukuru Housing Launch or Swaleh in many months. Everyone knows who he works for.”
Viral Video Links Goons to City Hall
The governor’s denial comes amid widespread online backlash and a viral video showing a group of men chanting “Sakaja tumelinda jiji” (“Sakaja, we’ve defended the city”) as they marched past City Hall during the protests.
Eyewitnesses and protesters say the armed groups, carrying crude weapons, infiltrated the demonstrations and unleashed chaos, mugging participants, looting nearby shops, and clashing with police.
In a Citizen TV exposé aired shortly after the protests, several of the alleged goons admitted to being hired to sabotage the protest.
However, many also claimed they were shortchanged and had not received the promised payments.
Governor Had Warned Against Violence Days Earlier
Ironically, just days before the protest, Sakaja had publicly cautioned against violence during demonstrations. Speaking at a youth empowerment event in Uasin Gishu on June 14, the governor said:
“Even if we are angry, let’s not destroy our property. If we must demonstrate, let us do so peacefully.”
He further warned that anyone caught vandalizing infrastructure or looting during protests would face the full force of the law.
Mounting Pressure on Leadership Over Ojwang’s Death
The protests that triggered this controversy were sparked by public outrage over the death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher who died in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on June 7.
Deputy IG Eliud Lagat was recently grilled by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) regarding his potential links to the incident.
