Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, accusing him of hiring goons who violently disrupted peaceful protests in the city’s Central Business District on June 17, 2025. The demonstrations, held in memory of the late activist and teacher Albert Ojwang, turned chaotic after armed groups descended on protestors.
During a press briefing, Owino directly blamed Sakaja for arranging the violence. He claimed that the attacks were not spontaneous but rather a coordinated effort backed by senior government officials. “These goons are not just criminals, they are instruments of state-enabled terror,” Owino declared. “Their actions are a direct assault on democracy and public safety.”
Eyewitnesses reported that masked men, armed with crude weapons, attacked demonstrators and robbed civilians of their belongings. Videos circulating online showed police vehicles stationed nearby, yet officers failed to intervene. This raised serious concerns about possible complicity or deliberate inaction by law enforcement.
Owino, a consistent critic of Sakaja’s leadership, addressed the governor directly. “Johnson Sakaja, your actions do not make you strong. Hurting others does not give you power, it reveals your disregard for the rule of law,” he said. He also urged the government to support victims of the unrest instead of shielding those responsible.
Furthermore, Owino condemned the fatal shooting of a protester by a police officer during the chaos. “I want to warn this officer: your own boss may soon face murder charges,” he said, referencing the ongoing investigations into Ojwang’s death in custody.
Meanwhile, Governor Sakaja denied any involvement in the violence. Speaking earlier in Kamagut, he warned that individuals who vandalized city infrastructure during protests would face arrest. He described the perpetrators as “criminals masquerading as protesters” and emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations.
Despite Sakaja’s denial, Owino insisted that Nairobi has become increasingly unsafe under the governor’s watch. He pledged to pursue all legal avenues to hold those responsible accountable and called on fellow leaders to reject intimidation and violence
