Individuals accused of disrupting the June 17 protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) have confessed to being hired by influential figures to infiltrate and destabilize the otherwise peaceful demonstrations.
Speaking to Citizen TV, several of the goons admitted that they were recruited and promised payments as low as KSh50 to cause mayhem during the protests, which were organized in honour of Albert Ojwang. Some lamented that they were never paid at all, despite carrying out the assignment.
Armed with sticks, the hired youths unleashed violence on demonstrators and looted shops in broad daylight. Eyewitnesses and victims alleged that the goons were sponsored by political figures, although specific identities remain under investigation.
The group’s activities were further complicated by reports suggesting police complicity. Footage shared online showed officers turning a blind eye to the chaos as the hired gangs assaulted protesters and destroyed property.
The goons disclosed that they were promised up to KSh2,000 for the job, with the amount to be paid upon completion. However, many said they only received KSh50—or nothing at all.
Most of the recruits came from Nairobi’s informal settlements, including Kibera and Korogocho. One individual revealed that his group alone consisted of about 83 people.
Their operation was coordinated from specific locations around the city, such as the junction near Dennis Pritt Road and Greenpark terminus. From these points, they were ferried into the CBD on boda bodas to execute their mission.
However, their actions sparked backlash from residents and vigilante groups. Several of the goons were attacked and injured by angry citizens defending their businesses. Some of those interviewed showed visible injuries, including broken limbs and head wounds.
One of the suspected masterminds, a notorious figure known as Swaleh, is said to have gone into hiding upcountry. A video surfaced online showing him kneeling and apologizing for his involvement.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who has been at the center of allegations linking him to the hiring of the goons, has firmly denied any involvement.
Sakaja came under fire after reports emerged claiming that he had convened a meeting with political activists and local leaders—among them Gaucho, a sitting Nairobi MP, an MCA, and the infamous Swaleh. The reports alleged that funds were issued during the meeting to facilitate the disruption of the protests.
The governor has dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated. He provided receipts and travel records indicating that he was out of town, attending engagements in Lugari, on the day the alleged meeting was said to have occurred.
“I did not meet anyone to plan any disruptions,” Sakaja stated. “Let us not politicize such a serious matter.”
The confessions have sparked public outrage, raising fresh concerns over the politicization of protests and the increasing use of informal militias to undermine civic expression in the capital. Investigations into the masterminds behind the operation are ongoing.
