City Affairs

Nairobi governor accuses MP of orchestrating City Hall arson during protests

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja addressing the media outside County Hall, Nairobi on July 4, 2024. Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Thursday, July 4, 2024

The county chief requested that the MP and others assisting him be identified so that legal action could be taken.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has claimed that a Member of Parliament was behind activities that saw one of the offices at City Hall burnt during the Occupy Parliament protests last month.

Addressing the media on Thursday outside County Hall, the governor said that one of the people captured burning City Hall on June 25, 2024, is alleged to be working in the office of a Member of Parliament.

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The county chief requested that the MP and others assisting him be identified so that legal action could be taken.

"Let the politician and MP who sent them be known," Sakaja added.

The governor insisted he lives and believes in the Siasa safi mantra, noting that he could not send goons to burn his own house (City Hall).

At the same time, Sakaja distanced himself from accusations that he sponsored goons to interfere with the Occupy Parliament protests witnessed last week.

Sakaja stated that he was away for a cabinet retreat at the coast all last week.

"I have been away at the coast with my cabinet for the whole week. We just came back on Sunday after ending the retreat where we were planning for this new financial year," he said.

On June 25, 2024, a section of City Hall was set ablaze by demonstrators protesting against the Finance Bill, 2024.

The pre-colonial building along City Hall Way has been the home of mayors since independence and three governors.

According to witnesses, angry protesters chased away County inspectorate officers outside the governor's office. This allowed the protesters to gain entry and set some sections on fire.