The Nairobi County Government has warned that those who were involved in the destruction of infrastructure within the city during the protests last week will be apprehended.
Speaking in Kamagut on Saturday, June 14, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja claimed that investigations by security agencies have already uncovered who vandalised county infrastructure and other properties across the city during demonstrations.
According to Sakaja, the individuals, whom he labelled as 'criminals,' who masqueraded as protesters and destroyed the recently installed lighting and sanitation infrastructure, eclipsed the original motive of the demonstrations, which was to protest the recent death of Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody on Sunday, June 8.
“Even if we are angry, let’s not destroy our property. If we must demonstrate, let us do so peacefully. The next time, let no one try to destroy infrastructure, burn cars, steal from businesses, or cause chaos,” Sakaja said.
“The Constitution allows peaceful demonstrations, not violence. We must protect our businesses. What happened will not be allowed to happen again,” he added.
According to Umoja, one MCA, Ronald Mugambi, the destruction of property during demonstrations undermined the solid infrastructural progress the country's capital has engineered over the years.
“Don’t destroy what has taken us years to build. We will not allow this to continue—people losing their businesses and infrastructure being vandalised. Next time they try, we will ensure the law takes its course,” the MCA said.
Echoing the Nairobi official's statements in the same event, the National Assembly Majority leader, Kimani Ichung'wah, stressed the need for the public to remain peaceful during their demonstrations. According to Ichung'wah, the government will not allow vandalising county infrastructure.
“Nairobi will not become Mogadishu. We cannot allow this. Those burning county assets, destroying businesses, setting vehicles on fire, and vandalising infrastructure are not seeking justice—that is criminal behaviour, not a pursuit of justice,” he said.
On Thursday, June 12, some of the protesters who took to the streets to demonstrate against the recent death of Albert Ojwang were seen uninstalling the newly erected dustbins and streetlights, which are barely a month old.
In videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, a number of the bins were removed from their original posts, with protesters carrying them along the road as they dragged them along.
Speaking when the installation kicked off on Sunday, May 18, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Mosiria, stated that the bins were put in place to serve pedestrians after the previously installed ones were stolen.
On the other hand, the county government had installed modern street lighting systems, which Sakaja asserts will be fundamental in enhancing the visibility, security, and ambience of the city.
After their installation, the county had issued stern warnings to both city dwellers and hawkers against destroying them.
