Sudi forgives protesters who vandalized, looted his night club

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has said he has forgiven protesters who stormed and looted his nightclub during Gen Z demonstrations on June 25, leading to the closure of the entertainment joint.

The angry protesters made away with liquor worth millions during the agitation that turned violent.

The MP had unveiled the Timba XO Club located off the busy Eldoret-Nakuru highway earlier this year.

Sudi, a close ally of President William Ruto, said he held no grudge against any protester who vandalized his property and business premises.

He said he lost millions of shillings during the Gen Z protests but vowed not to take any action against the perpetrators who he claimed were misled by some political rivals.

"I come from a poor family, I came from far away, having worked as a matatu tout and now serving the people of Kapseret as a Member of Parliament. It's a miracle and for that reason, I cannot take advantage of my position in government to frustrate people who voted for me," said Sudi.

He continued: "I am a Christian and the Bible commands me to forgive those who have wronged me. We must forgive one another and I want to urge Kenyans who lost their properties to do the same for the sake of peace in our country."

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP said the losses he incurred following the violent protests were behind him and that he was starting again.

"If I continue thinking of the loss of money and fighting back, I will have gone against God's will," he added

Last month, 16 people, among them a high school student, were arraigned in an Eldoret court for stealing and destroying property valued at more than Sh150 million at Timba XO Club near Annex.

The suspects were arrested by the police during the government's anti-finance Bill protests in Uasin Gishu County.

Eldoret Principal Magistrate Cherono Kesse released them on bond terms of Sh300,000 each with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.

The same day the Magistrate also directed that the students who are aged 18 years be released on a personal bond of Sh100,000.

Sudi said that he had already started renovating the club and continuing with his business.

He accused some unnamed individuals of hiring Gen Z youths to cause the destruction of his property and enmity among communities in Uasin Gishu.

The legislator further maintained that he will continue with his campaign against ethnicity and tribalism by ensuring that all communities in Uasin Gishu live in peace.