Governor Sakaja Denies Links to Protest Disruptions, Blames Political Rivals
Sakaja reaffirmed his support for peaceful civic engagement and called for calm as the city prepares for another round of demonstrations.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. Photo/Nairobi Leo.
By Brian Kiprop
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has strongly denied allegations linking him to violence that disrupted protests in the CBD last Tuesday, accusing political rivals of orchestrating a smear campaign.
In a video statement released on Sunday, Sakaja dismissed claims that he sponsored goons to infiltrate protests held in honour of the late teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, calling the accusations “false, malicious, and politically motivated.”
“For the record, I have never and will never sponsor violence of any kind. My entire political life has been anchored on siasa safi,” Sakaja declared.
The governor accused unnamed individuals of distributing Nairobi County-branded paraphernalia to mislead the public into believing that the violent groups were acting under the county government’s direction.
Sakaja claimed he knows the masterminds behind the alleged plot to tarnish his name, describing them as “well-known individuals whose political careers are defined by violence, chaos, and intimidation.”
“This is a desperate attempt to gain political mileage by hijacking a genuine cause,” he added. “I urge Nairobians not to be deceived. Let us not allow rogue politicians to exploit serious matters for selfish gain.”
The Tuesday protests were sparked by outrage over the death of Ojwang and growing concerns over police brutality. More demonstrations are expected on Wednesday, June 25, to honour victims of the June 2024 protests and demand justice.
Sakaja reaffirmed his support for peaceful civic engagement and called for calm as the city prepares for another round of demonstrations.
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