Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied allegations linking him to violence witnessed during last week’s anti-government protests.
Speaking on Sunday, June 22, Sakaja dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated, maintaining that he has never condoned violence throughout his political career.
"Over the past few days, I have observed with deep concern the circulation of false, malicious, and political allegations against me. I would like to say for the record, I have never and I will never sponsor violence of any kind; my entire political life has been anchored on clean politics which upholds human dignity, the rule of law and the democratic rights of every Kenyan," he said.
Sakaja claimed the accusations are part of a desperate ploy by certain individuals with a history of chaos and intimidation.
"These accusations are not only false; they are desperate attempts by certain well-known individuals whose political careers are marked by violence, intimidation, and chaos. They have gone as far as hiring goons to come and infiltrate protests and claim that I'm the one who sent them so as to taint my name and gain political mileage," he added.
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Sakaja urged Nairobi residents to remain alert and not allow political opportunists to hijack the ongoing national discourse for selfish reasons.
"I urge you, Nairobians, not to be deceived; let us not let rogue politicians hijack serious matters for selfish gains. The recent and tragic events demand justice, not side-shows and disruptions. Shooting the focus to unverified claims about me is not only dishonest, it dishonours the victims," he further said.
This is the second time Sakaja is denying links to hired goons who reigned terror on peaceful demonstrators during Tuesday, June 17, protests in Nairobi CBD.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, he pointed out the constitutional right to protest, further dismissing claims of association with any hired goons.
"To my fellow Kenyans, let us not forget that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in Article 37 of our Constitution. It guarantees every person the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peaceably and unarmed. However, this right does not override the rights of others to work, to move freely, and to live in safety. The Constitution also mandates the police to protect public order and the rights of non-protesters.
"I therefore strongly condemn those who seek to take advantage of legitimate protests to incite violence and destabilise our city. We will not allow criminal elements to hijack our democratic space. Affirming the constitutional right to peaceful protest, we strongly condemn the destruction of public and private property witnessed last week, perpetrated by hired goons brought in from outside Nairobi. We categorically dissociate ourselves from any gangs, militias, or politically sponsored groups that exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activity," the statement read.
In a call for national unity, Sakaja urged for a broader dialogue to address the root causes of public frustration.
"I believe the time has come for all stakeholders, including national leaders, civil society, the security sector, and the citizens, to engage in a meaningful national conversation on peace, justice, and unity.
"While the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, I am deeply concerned by the scenes of vandalism, looting, and destruction of property that have marred Nairobi in recent days. Businesses built over years of sacrifice have been vandalised, and public infrastructure paid for by taxpayers destroyed," the statement further read.
