Goons speak out: We were paid to attack protesters

By Newsflash Team

A covert scheme to sabotage Tuesday’s protest in Nairobi—sparked by the killing of Albert Ojwang—was hatched as early as last Thursday, sources reveal.

A senior political player in the capital is said to have mobilised a team tasked with recruiting goons whose sole mission was to disrupt the demonstrations.

Local estate chairpersons and political mobilisers played a pivotal role in identifying and assembling these gangs, mainly drawn from Nairobi’s informal settlements. They were armed with crude weapons including whips and clubs, and were under strict instructions to suppress protesters with force.

Recruitment efforts were concentrated in specific neighbourhoods like Congo area in Dagoretti North, parts of Dagoretti South, and Mathare. Boda boda riders who accepted the job were directed to carry two armed passengers each. By Tuesday morning, the recruits had been mobilised and briefed. Though the chaos was apparent, State House remained distant from the operation. “Matters related to public order, safety and law enforcement fall within the mandate of the police, under the Inspector-General,” said spokesperson Hussein Mohammed.

Politicians issued public threats

In the lead-up to the protest, some politicians had issued warnings to deter participation. Videos emerged of prominent leaders cautioning protesters against demonstrating. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo (Matach), and activist Calvince “Gaucho” Okoth were all captured issuing statements interpreted as threats. During a church service in Kakamega County attended by President William Ruto, Sakaja condemned the protests, warning youths against destruction of property. “Torching vehicles won’t bring back our brother Albert Ojwang,” he said. He also urged police to arrest and charge any individuals caught vandalising property.

Odhiambo, in a separate video, called on Sakaja to create a youth task force to support police in confronting protesters. “Ojwang died, yes. But should Nairobi be destroyed?” he posed. Gaucho initially warned demonstrators to keep off Nairobi but later claimed he had left the country before Tuesday. “I wasn’t even in Kenya. You’re tarnishing my name saying I’m sponsored. I support Raila Odinga—only he can direct me,” he said in a video post.

Goons briefed, paid, and escorted into CBD

Intelligence sources disclosed that goons were well aware of the likelihood of violent encounters but remained committed due to financial desperation. One recruit from Kawangware told Newsflash he was contacted Monday evening and offered Sh2,000, with assurances that police were informed and wouldn’t interfere. The group assembled at a Valley Road petrol station where they were paid and their motorcycles fuelled. A station attendant confirmed the event, recounting how tens of riders had their tanks filled before heading to town.

Chanting anti-protest slogans and waving whips, the goons rode into the CBD—but the situation quickly turned hostile. On Moi Avenue, they encountered enraged protesters. Some riders were assaulted and motorcycles torched. One rider trying to flee was captured, beaten, and interrogated. Another confessed under pressure that they had been paid Sh1,000 to disrupt the demonstrations and were only briefed upon arriving in town. Notably, the goons’ freedom to move alongside armed police, despite carrying crude weapons, raised further suspicion.

“We thought we were hired to guard shops,” said one of the goons. But the protesters identified and turned on them. Some of the attackers had reportedly hailed Sakaja as they passed near City Hall. The incident further blurred the lines between State agents and politically sponsored gangs, especially as police appeared to tolerate their presence.

Police collude with gangs

Governor Sakaja later distanced himself from the gangs, asserting that Nairobi leadership had no ties to criminal outfits. “We categorically dissociate ourselves from any gangs or militias who exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activity,” he stated. Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura also denied any links between the State and the goons, insisting that while Kenyans are entitled to political expression, it must remain within legal bounds. He criticised demonstrators for provoking police and called for new laws to clearly define areas for peaceful picketing without disrupting public order.

Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri Nyaga dismissed claims of collusion, branding the allegations “preposterous.” He warned that any individual caught on video violating the law would face consequences. “Photos don’t disappear. Action will be taken,” he said.

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo condemned the violence, labelling it as evidence of rising lawlessness. She criticised the “barbaric conduct” of militia-style gangs allegedly working in tandem with security officers, calling for urgent reforms to protect the right to peaceful assembly.