500 goons were hired to cause violence during Gen Z demos, leaders claim

Some businesses were broken into along Wabera Street during the anti-Finance Bill protests on June 26, 2024. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Some crafty politicians could have had a hand in the bloody protests in Nairobi last Tuesday, it has emerged.

Sources told The Standard that some hirelings were ferried in buses from Mathare, Dandora, Kayole and Kawangware, among other areas, to counter protests organised by the youth and attract reaction from security agents.

Sources estimated that about 500 goons armed with crude weapons were ferried from Kayole and dropped at various spots in the city, having been paid handsomely. Another squad of 1,000 demonstrators, also armed with crude weapons, landed from Mathare while a third formation of 300 was transported from Embakasi South.

Hundreds of demonstrators were also ferried from Kawangware and paid handsomely by a prominent politician, our sources said, their mission being to join a squad of 100 street boys to break into shops and stone the police. 

To conceal their identity and divert attention, some were ferried by motorbikes while those from Eastlands alighted at City Stadium and walked into town in small groups to avoid calling attention to themselves.

Others, sources said, were ferried on Monday night and slept in the Nairobi Central District (CBD) while others arrived as early as 6am to await the most opportune moment to strike.

Some goons from Mukuru kwa Njenga trekked all the way to the CBD, which was the epicentre of their operations, and later wreaked havoc on Eastern By Pass.

“Some from Kayole were armed with crude weapons including grinding machines and hack saws which they later used to break into shops and stalls. They broke into supermarkets, including Quickmart on Ronald Ngala Street, Carrefour in Nairobi CBD and Naivas on Moi Avenue,” said a trader who did not wish to be named.

Shops located in Nairobi’s downtown bore the heaviest brunt, with looters ransacking the premises and making away with goods worth millions of shillings.

Cianda Building on Ronald Ngala Road was vandalised and later set on fire on Tuesday evening while RNG Plaza at the edge of the same street was broken into and electronics stolen.

Looters also broke into Uganda House on Kenyatta Avenue and made away with goods of unknown value before setting it alight.

Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said they suspected that the looters were ferried from outside Nairobi but said investigations are ongoing. "We shall ensure that we bring all the perpetrators to book,” Bungei added. 

Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje asked the government to tell the country who financed the goons, speculating that the internal strife within the ruling administration could have contributed to it.

“We were equally shocked by the turn of events on Tuesday and Thursday and we believe that whatever happened at the National Assembly and in the CBD was not executed by the Gen Z but by sponsored goons out to cause destruction and mar the otherwise peaceful protests,” said Mwenje.

He added: "We are asking the youth to keep off the protests for now because of the infiltration by criminal elements.”

Starehe MP Amos Mwago said the looting that happened in Nairobi was organised crime where goons saw an opportunity to steal from the business people and went ahead to do so.