Wamuzi News Ke
In a stunning turn just hours after nationwide protests were outlawed, Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri Nyaga has publicly accused a faction of Nairobi’s business community of orchestrating violence during the June 25 commemoration of last year’s deadly Parliament protests. According to Nyaga, some traders “hired people to protect their wealth” using clubs, whips, and motorcycles—actions he unequivocally denounced as illegal and unconstitutional.
Speaking live on Citizen TV Thursday morning, Nyaga delivered a blistering indictment: “Those who labelled themselves as businessmen projected violence and hired people to protect their businesses. They hired young men who were armed with clubs to protect their wealth.”
The police spokesperson clarified that safeguarding lives and property remains the exclusive domain of the National Police Service and has launched a formal investigation. “There is footage that is still under forensic review… Once the DCI officers complete the investigations, we will arrest the goons and take them to court,” warned Nyaga.
The allegations follow widely circulated viral videos from June 17 showing unidentified men on motorcycles — some chanting pro-government slogans — attacking peaceful protesters. Multiple rights groups and media outlets have increasingly flagged these incidents as evidence of illicit collusion between traders, self-styled militias, and parts of law enforcement.
Western diplomats earlier this week issued formal warnings, expressing concern over the presence of hired “goons” at demonstrations and urging Kenyan authorities to respect democratic space and fully investigate these events.
In response, traders have refrained from public comment, while Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s office swiftly denied any involvement. Civil society leaders and the Kenya Law Society have sharply denounced the alleged practice as a threat to democracy and legal order.
Nyaga’s announcement marks a significant shift in state strategy — from passive patience to active crackdown on non-state actors allegedly engaged in violent suppression of civil protest. The move comes amid growing concerns of escalating unrest, with nationwide protests once again banned for June 25.
What to Watch:
- Forensic analysts and DCI investigators are expected to detail their findings in the coming days.
- Arrests of alleged hired assailants could carry wide political implications for Nairobi traders and possibly implicate county assemblies.
- The government’s ability to maintain order without degrading civil liberties remains under intense international scrutiny.
With this bombshell claim, police have shifted the narrative of protest violence—from rogue demonstrators to organized private militias. As investigations move forward, Kenyans across divides are watching closely: will justice be served, or is this another chapter in state-led suppression?
