NAIROBI, Kenya
Dozens of goons on Monday March 27 invaded an expansive land owned by former President
Uhuru Kenyatta’s family at Kamakis on the Eastern Bypass in Nairobi and
looted property of unknown value.Men carry off sheep stolen from a farm belonging to former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family at Kamakis on the Eastern Bypass in Kiambu on March 27, 2023.
A similar attack was reported
at gas cylinder-maker Specter East Africa, a company that is linked to the family
of opposition leader Raila
Odinga, who is leading anti-government protests.
The Kenyatta land was invaded
by a gang wielding machetes and clubs around 9am yesterday. They stole sheep,
cut down trees and burnt bushes as others did mock sub-division seemingly with
intent to grab the property.
The motive of the invasion is
yet unclear. There were no police officers to eject the gang from the property
located 20 kilometres from the city centre and on which the Kenyattas plan to
build the multibillion-shilling Northlands City. When the Nation team arrived
at the scene, guards watched helplessly as the mob cut down trees and lit
bonfires.
“We are sons and daughters of
Mau Mau and we are here to claim what we believe is ours. This land is too big
and we shall divide it into several pieces because we also want a share,” said
a member of the gang, alluding to the group that fought for Kenya’s
independence from British rule.
The gang went on a looting
spree, stealing and butchering sheep and goats at the farm. Some sold the
slaughtered animals to motorists along the highway for as little as Sh2,000.
Scenes yesterday were a far
cry from past experience, where the land was heavily protected by armed police
officers on horseback. The mob attacked journalists to block them from filming
the anarchy. Nation crime reporter Steve Otieno was roughed up, his clothes
torn and mobile phone stolen.
The gang members had spotted
one of the Nation journalists taking photos and demanded that he delete the
pictures. Other journalists from NTV were also chased away from the property by
the goons who stoned a Nation Media Group vehicle.Windows shattered at East Africa Spectre Limited in Industrial Area, Nairobi. 27/3/23
Witnesses said some of the
gang members were ferried in buses.
“Hawa walikuja hapa na
haya magari wengine walitokea pande za Ruiru na wengine pande za Mwihoko (The
gang was ferried here by PSVs, some came from Ruiru and others from Mwihoko),”
said a boda boda operator who said he witnessed the buses arrive. As the mayhem
unfolded, two armed uniformed police officers kept watch near the buses.
Brookside Dairy and Peponi
School are situated inside the vast property. Gicheha Farm, which is the
family’s livestock rearing business, is also located there. The family of the
former Head of State wants to put up a mega city on the property.
The Northlands City master
plan will be executed in four phases over a span of 50 years.
Interestingly, on March 18
this year, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah had alluded to
the invasion of the Kenyatta property.
“Even those big lands, we will
invade and those without land will be settled. Don’t think only the ordinary
Kenyans will lose their property. Even you will pay a price if you continue to
instigate violence and bloodshed in this country.”
“That is my message to Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, the sponsor of Azimio [la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party] and the mercenary that is Raila Odinga,” Mr Ichungwa said at Kianyaga High School where he had accompanied Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on a visit to his (the DP’s) former school.
However, it was no clear
whether these threats had anything to do with the invasion of the land
yesterday or they were just made in jest. And at Mr Odinga’s Spectre East
Africa on Mombasa Road, thugs riding on about 20 motorcycles each carrying
three people and a private vehicle stoned the premises.
The gang broke the window
panes at the sentry box as well as one of the windows to the office of Mrs Idah
Odinga.
Guards said the attackers did
not enter the compound that is reinforced by a perimeter wall, electricity
fence and manned by CCTV cameras on a 24-hour basis.
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