Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has once again distanced himself from the goons who attacked protesters, even promising to ensure security for demonstrators taking to the streets on Wednesday, June 25.
In a statement released on Sunday, the governor stated that he had already spoken to the regional commander of the National Police Service (NPS) to ensure the security of the protesters and warned the protesters to avoid violence of any kind.
"I urge all Kenyans and the people of Nairobi to reject violence and criminal behaviour as they take to the streets this coming week," he stated.
"I have spoken to the commander of the police to ensure that peaceful demonstrators will be protected as they express their rights, and that must be done within the confines of the law, as enshrined in the constitution."
While continuing to condemn those who infiltrated the protests to harass protesters, Sakaja reiterated his stance that he did not sponsor the goons as widely reported.
In fact, he highlighted previous instances where he had provided security and other facilities for protesters.
"As your governor, I remain committed to the rights of those who protest, as I have shown in the past when I have given safe passage, ambulances, health facilities and even venues for concerts of peace because we believe in that right," he stated.
He therefore claimed that he had been framed by unnamed rival political leaders hell-bent on ruining his reputation to the extent of issuing the goons with county paraphernalia and instructing them on what to say to align Sakaja with the goons.
During the Tuesday, June 17, protests, a gang of motorcyclists streamed into the Nairobi CBD, armed with crude weapons to disperse the protesters.
The ensuing demonstration was violent, and at one point, the alleged thugs even allied with the police, creating the impression that they were backed by a powerful figure.
Sakaja's name was mentioned multiple times as the aforementioned sponsor while the goons applauded the governor for effectively putting an end to the demonstrations.
Despite failing to identify specific individuals, they acknowledged that they were paid as little as Ksh50 to incite this violence. Since then, the governor has refuted these claims, stating that he opposes all forms of violence and has even demanded justice for Boniface Kariuki, who was shot by a rogue police officer during the demonstrations.
