Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied allegations that he held a secret meeting with Gaucho and Swaleh to plan how goons would disrupt Nairobi protests.
Reports had alleged that, before the protests, the governor met with several leaders, including Gaucho, a sitting Nairobi MP, an MCA, and the infamous Swaleh, and issued them with funds to sponsor the goons.
According to the allegations, the governor released Ksh2 million and gave it to Gaucho to mobilise goons to neutralise protestors using machetes and rungus, and to sponsor chaos.
In a quick rejoinder, Sakaja distanced himself from the allegations, clarifying that he was not in the city on the said day. While providing evidence, the governor revealed that he had travelled to Lugari and did not convene the alleged meeting.
“Such blatant lies. On Sunday, I was in Lugari for Church and came back to Nairobi on Monday afternoon through Kitale. Ticket below. I have not seen Gaucho since he attended the Mukuru Housing Launch or Swaleh in many months,” Sakaja clarified.
According to the tickets provided by the governor, he had travelled from Kitale to Nairobi on Monday, June 16, at 10 am, disregarding the allegations that he was in the city on Sunday and conducted the meeting as alleged.
Gaucho also responded to the allegations, claiming that he was not in Kenya and that the claims that he had met with the governor to arrange the disruptions were fabricated lies.
Nairobi CBD witnessed chaos on Tuesday, June 17, after youths took to the streets to demand justice for the death of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
What began as peaceful calls for justice quickly escalated into chaos, looting, and running battles between police and youths. Goons descended on the streets, destroying and looting businesses.
The governor reiterated his previous statements that the goons were not affiliated with his office and condemned the violence as criminal.
He urged the National Police Service to arrest those responsible and insisted the gangs were 'brought in from outside Nairobi'.
“We strongly condemn the destruction of public and private property witnessed last week, perpetrated by hired goons brought in from outside Nairobi,” he added.
