It wasn’t me: Sakaja denies sponsoring goons to disrupt Nairobi protests

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied sponsoring armed goons who disrupted Tuesday’s demonstrations in the capital, insisting that he had nothing to do with the violence that broke out during protests over police brutality.

In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sakaja dismissed as “blatant lies” claims that he financed and mobilised machete-wielding youths who were seen attacking peaceful protesters and looting shops in the Central Business District.

“On Sunday, I was in Lugari for a church event. I returned on Monday via Kitale using Skyward Express. I have not seen Gaucho since the Mukuru housing launch, and I’ve not seen Swaleh in many months,” Mr Sakaja wrote.

He was referring to activist Mr Calvin ‘Gaucho’ Okoth and another alleged organiser who were mentioned in viral posts and an accusing finger pointing at him (Sakaja). It was alleged that the Governor paid Mr Okoth Sh2 million to disrupt the protests.

Mr Sakaja was responding to online claims and a widely circulated video showing masked individuals in civilian clothes armed with sticks and metal rods confronting demonstrators.

Some were filmed chanting “Sakaja tumelinda jiji” (“Sakaja, we’ve protected the city”), leading many to believe they were linked to City Hall.

He however, condemned the violence, distancing himself from the chaos and calling on police to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.

“Let the National Police Service act with firmness and fairness to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those responsible for acts of violence, vandalism, and theft,” he said.

While he has defended his administration’s role, pressure continues to mount, with civil society groups and political leaders demanding answers.

 Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino was among the first to hit out, accusing the governor of turning Nairobi into a war zone instead of focusing on service delivery.

“Real leadership is not loud music and PR stunts. You were given power to serve, not to suppress,” said Mr Owino.

Activist groups such as Bunge La Wananchi have also warned against the growing trend of using youth gangs to disrupt peaceful gatherings.

Activist groups such as Bunge La Wananchi have also warned against the growing trend of using youth gangs to disrupt peaceful gatherings.

They acActivist groups such as Bunge La Wananchi have also warned against the growing trend of using youth gangs to disrupt peaceful gatherings.cused political leaders of weaponizing poverty by exploiting idle youth to settle political scores.

The protest, held in response to the death of Mr. Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger allegedly tortured in police custody, was marked by chaos after unknown groups joined police in violently dispersing demonstrators.

Several protesters were beaten and robbed in broad daylight. Videos captured during the confrontation showed some of the attackers retreating into side streets near City Hall, raising suspicions of official involvement.

A Citizen TV exposé later revealed that some of the youths claimed they were promised payment to join the protest and cause disruption—but were later “shortchanged,” fueling further speculation about who hired them and why.

With another protest planned for Tuesday, June 25, civil society organisations have vowed not to be intimidated.

They are now demanding legal accountability, not just for the rogue officers involved in extrajudicial killings, but also for those allegedly using public funds to sponsor violence.

Despite Sakaja’s denial, the political temperature in Nairobi remains high, and all eyes are on how law enforcement agencies will respond—not just to the chaos that unfolded, but to the broader question of who ordered it.