Raila Odinga's son, Raila Odinga Junior, has slammed the government over the alleged deployment of gangs in Nairobi's Central Business District during protests.
In a short statement shared by the veteran politician's son, Junior warned that countries like Haiti, where Kenya currently has its officers deployed, began with similar 'militia' elements.
He indicated that a failure to rein in the goons who wreaked havoc on the streets of Nairobi risked plunging the country into gang chaos.
"In Haiti, the gangs started as government militias, then slowly but surely developed into the dominant force that we see today. We must stop this descent into madness. Dimples or no dimples," Junior warned.
On Tuesday, chaos erupted in parts of Nairobi’s CBD as suspected goons, some visibly armed, were captured vandalising property and harassing passers-by during the 'Justice for Ojwang' protests.
Several shops were broken into, and vehicles and motorbikes vandalised in Nairobi, with business owners accusing authorities of withdrawing uniformed police as the gangs roamed freely.
Eyewitnesses claimed the groups arrived on motorbikes before fanning out into crowds, posing as protestors. The disruption forced some businesses to remain shut for most of the day, with opposition leaders accusing the government of stage-managing violence to discredit genuine demonstrations.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka pointed an accusing finger at several oversight bodies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), following the wave of protests that turned violent.
In a statement, Kalonzo accused IPOA, the National Police Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of completely failing to perform their duties, as he alleged the chaos witnessed on Tuesday was state-sponsored.
"We are witnessing a clear dereliction of duty on the part of the National Police Service, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)," the Wiper Party leader said in his statement.
Armed with crude weapons, including knives and clubs, they went after protestors and other civilians in the CBD, snatching handbags, phones, and any other valuables they could get hold of.
On Wednesday morning, the situation in the CBD remained relatively calm, though a tense atmosphere lingered. Many city dwellers moved cautiously, with a noticeable drop in foot traffic around previously affected areas.
The air still carried traces of tear gas from the previous day’s chaos, and shopkeepers who had reopened did so warily, some with only half-drawn shutters as a precaution.
