Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, accusing him of betraying the public trust by allegedly deploying hired goons to disrupt peaceful demonstrations held earlier this week.
In a statement shared on his X platform, Owino criticised Sakaja’s administration for what he described as widespread harassment of vendors and intimidation of youth, painting a picture of a government that uses brute force to suppress dissent.
“Governor Sakaja, Nairobi did not elect you to unleash goons on its people. You promised leadership. You spoke of change. But what we’re seeing is betrayal,” Owino said.
The protests in question, held on Tuesday, were aimed at demanding the resignation of Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Lagat, following his alleged links to the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang. Videos that later went viral showed groups of men chanting pro-Sakaja slogans, “Sakaja tumelinda jiji” (Sakaja, we’ve protected the city), as they marched outside City Hall. Several of the alleged goons later told Citizen TV that they had been hired to sabotage the protests, though many claimed they were shortchanged and never received full payment.
Online reports further alleged that Governor Sakaja met secretly on Sunday, June 15, with Bunge la Mwananchi president Calvin Okoth Otieno, popularly known as Gaucho, and political mobilizer Swaleh Sonko. During this meeting, the governor is alleged to have given Ksh.2 million to facilitate the disruption of the demonstrations.
Babu Owino challenged the governor’s style of leadership, warning against what he called a “reign of fear.”
“You were elected to fix broken systems, not to break the people. You were given power to serve, not to suppress,” the MP said, adding that “real leadership is not loud music and PR stunts. It’s service. It’s humility. It’s protecting your people, not attacking them.”
He further warned that Nairobians were closely watching Sakaja’s actions and would not be silenced.
“You can silence a few voices today, but you cannot kill the spirit of an entire city,” Owino stated.
Governor Sakaja has since dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated. In his response on X, he wrote, “Such blatant lies. On Sunday, I was in Lugari for Church and came back to Nairobi on Monday afternoon through Kitale via Skywards. I have not seen Gaucho since the Mukuru Housing Launch or Swaleh in many months, everyone knows who he works for.”
Prior to the demonstrations, Sakaja had issued a stern warning to individuals planning to cause chaos, saying the county would not tolerate lawlessness.
The controversy has ignited public debate over the handling of peaceful protests and the use of political enforcers in Nairobi’s governance. As the accusations continue to swirl, pressure is mounting on the governor to address the claims more directly and transparently.
Written By Rodney Mbua
