Goons invade Uhuru family land, Raila firm

Goons yesterday invaded retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family estate on the Eastern bypass, cut down trees and stole livestock in a day that chaos and mayhem marked the first of two weekly protests called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

While the goons were invading the Kenyatta family property, another group riding on motorcycles attacked the Raila Odinga family company, East Africa Spectre in Embakasi, Nairobi and pelted building with stones, breaking windowpanes.

Questions were raised over whether the government had resorted to extra-legal measures to respond to demonstrations called by Raila to push President William Ruto’s administration into lowering the cost of living and opening electoral commission servers for a forensic audit of August’s poll results.

And in parts of Nairobi, particularly Kibera and adjoining areas, Raila led his supporters as they made their way in the neighbourhoods, making several stops to address gatherings.

The raid on the Kenyatta land and attack on Spectre came just days after National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah, alleged that Uhuru was sponsoring the demonstrations and warned that Nairobi residents were ready to “defend their property”.

“If you want to be respected, you must also respect other people and their properties. If you don’t, we will invade your large tracts of land and allocate them to the landless. And that is my message to none other than Uhuru Kenyatta,” Ichung’wah said.

Raila yesterday condemned the two incidents, describing them as foolish acts of cowardice. He alleged that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was behind the attacks. In what appeared scripted, tens of people invaded the Northlands Farm in Ruiru sub-county, armed with power saws, machetes and other implements, which they used to cut down trees before setting on fire a huge chunk of the private land.

The goons also made away with an unknown number of livestock, which they were seen loading into vehicles or carrying on their backs before fleeing. Others were seen selling the stolen livestock to unsuspecting passersby at throw-away prices.

Some of the intruders are reported to have been selling the stolen livestock, mostly sheep, for as low as Sh2,000 in what elicited fury among netizens who took to social media to condemn the thuggery.

No police officers were seen on site although the robbery and wanton destruction began early in the morning, a move that left a section of leaders condemning the government for failing to protect property.

“Dangerous! Invading one rich man’s property today just sets the stage for invading another rich man’s property tomorrow,” former Nyeri MP Ngunjiri Wambugu warned on the possible mayhem that yesterday’s acts of hooliganism could spawn.

Opposition leaders, led by Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina, claimed that Gachagua was behind the raid, warning that if not arrested, the land invasion issue would escalate into a crisis.

“Talk of destruction of property sponsored by the State: They have destroyed the fence and are currently subdividing the land as a condition to start pushing back Azimio demonstrators from there,” ole Kina warned on Twitter.

Retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga also took to Twitter to claim that the government could be using police to destroy property and cause mayhem during the protests then blame it on Azimio.

“The so-called goons could be police paid to destroy property. The organisers of the demonstrations are then blamed,” he wrote.

Journalists who were at the scene had to secretly film the invasion after the goons threatened them.

Sitting on an 11,000-acre farm, Northlands City was set to host a real estate investment that had been envisioned to accommodate agricultural zones, industrial areas, schools and residences among other amenities.

In Kisumu, which was also rocked by demonstrations, a man was shot dead while several others were injured in confrontations between police and protesters.

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital chief executive Dr George Rae, confirmed the death of the 22-year-old man who was shot dead in Kondele. The victim’s body was taken to the hospital’s mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem.

Violent chaos

After a calm morning, the lakeside city experienced violent chaos in the afternoon as police engaged protesters in running battles. Chaos erupted after the protesters, led by Governor Anyang Nyong’o, hurled stones at police, prompting them to use teargas to disperse the rowdy youths.

It was the first time Nyong’o was participating in a demonstration. Last week’s protests were led by his deputy, Mathews Owili.

For most of the day, Kisumu generally remained deserted as most business premises closed amid fears of looting. However, Nyanza police boss Karanja Muiruri said his team was alert to deal with extreme, unlawful actions.

In Homa Bay, police also battled protesters for the better part of the day, leading to the disruption of businesses. In Rongo, Awendo, Uriri and Migori towns, businesses were closed as the demonstrators barricaded the roads and lit bonfires.

In Kajiado, however, businesses remained open and residents went on with their daily activities. However, a section of Public Service Vehicle operators reported that the number of passengers travelling to Nairobi was small as passengers shunned the route for fear of being caught up in the protests.

Meanwhile, Raila spent the better part of the morning in a strategy meeting at Chungwa House before emerging at around 1.35pm to begin the protest. From the top of his vehicle, he addressed supporters at various stops in the densely populated Kawangware area. Raila said the cost of living had gone high and that there was need to bring it down.

He at the same time maintained that the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) servers must be opened to establish who won the August presidential election. The then IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati declared Ruto winner. Chebukati retired in January and the process to find his replacement, and six new commissioners, has kicked off.

“The cost of living is too high and is not within the reach of the common citizen. They must reduce the cost of living. We are also demanding that they open the server so that we see who won the elections,” Raila demanded.

Flanked by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Roots Party leader George Wajackoya and his Democratic Action Party counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, Raila vowed to press on with the protests until the government lowers the cost of food.

Earlier in the day, Mathare area remained a no-go zone as running battles ensued pitying youth on one side and police on the other.

Knife-wielding gangster

And in Kibera, some journalists covering the demonstrations were attacked and robbed by knife-wielding gangster and their vehicle damaged.

An NTV reporter said they were attacked after they were suspected of being DCI officers taking photos of demonstrators.

Both the Media Council of Kenya and Kenya Editors Guild condemned the attacks on journalists by both protesters and police.

In Mombasa, the situation remained relatively calm except for pockets of chaos in Bangladesh area in Jomvu on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway where mobs of unruly youth barricaded the road.

The demos were, however, short-lived because police used teargas to disperse the mob. They also arrested several people believed to have been the masterminds of the demos.

Reporting by Noven Owiti, Kepher Otieno, Reuben Mwambingu, Christine Musa, Rawlings Otieno and Samuel Kariuki