Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has criticised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja after some goons confessed to being paid by an influential individual.
Several goons, during an interview conducted by Citizen TV, confessed that they were paid as little as Ksh 50 to cause destruction during the demonstration, which took place on June 17.
Some added that they were later deceived and were not paid any amount at all by the said individual.
In his statement on Saturday, June 21, Owino continued to blame Sakaja for allegedly hiring goons and betraying the residents of Nairobi.
He claimed that hawkers and youths who were part of the protest were being harassed and beaten by groups working under the county's orders.
“Governor Sakaja, Nairobi did not elect you to unleash goons on its people. You promised leadership. You spoke of change. But what we’re seeing is betrayal.”
“Vendors are being harassed. Youths are being beaten. Voices of dissent are being silenced not with facts, but with fists. Is this the ‘new Nairobi’ you promised?” Owino said.
He accused Sakaja’s administration of ruling through fear and intimidation instead of offering responsible leadership.
"You were elected to fix broken systems, not to break the people. You were given power to serve, not to suppress. Every time your administration sends goons to intimidate the people, you remind us: you are not leading. You are ruling through fear," he added.
His statement came after rumours spread alleging that Sakaja had sponsored the goons to disrupt the protest that took place on June 17.
Sakaja, however, responded to the allegations, stating that he is innocent and did not take part in such activities.
“Such blatant lies. On Sunday, I was in Lugari for church and came back to Nairobi on Monday afternoon via Kitale. Ticket below. I have not seen Gaucho since he attended the Mukuru Housing launch, or Swaleh, in many months,” Sakaja clarified.
