A man who claims to have been part of a group hired to disrupt a post-budget meeting at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi has made serious allegations pointing to political sponsorship of the incident and possible involvement of plain-clothes police officers.
Speaking to Citizen TV, the man described how he and others were allegedly recruited on Thursday evening and initially told they would be involved in disrupting a political gathering linked to opposition politician Rigathi Gachagua. However, he claims the instructions changed the following morning.
He recalled being told:
“Akatuambia kuna shughuli ya Rigathi Gachagua tao,”
He said each participant was promised about KSh 2,000 and instructed to source a motorcycle and operate in pairs.
Sudden Change of Target
According to his account, the group was later redirected to All Saints Cathedral, where civil society actors had gathered to discuss the national budget. He alleges that plain-clothes officers were present at the scene and took operational control.
Once in the city centre, he says they were instructed to proceed with the disruption.
“Kufika huko tukaingia na ma pikipiki, hao mapolisi tulikuwa nao wakasema hii inachoma,” he said.
He further claimed that they were initially instructed to park their motorcycles and relocate to a nearby construction site believed to be outside CCTV coverage. However, the plan allegedly collapsed after some members noticed surveillance cameras, leading to panic and dispersal before the mission was completed.
Allegations of Political Financing
The man also alleged that such operations are not isolated incidents, claiming that politicians regularly hire groups like theirs for similar activities. He further suggested that criminal opportunism, including theft, is sometimes encouraged during such disruptions.
His main concern, however, is the aftermath. He claims that despite acting on instructions, members of the group are now being pursued by police.
“Kama mtu alikuwa hapo hatukujua itakuwa hivyo mpaka saa hii polisi wanakimbizana na watu,” he said.
Church and Leadership Reactions
All Saints Cathedral Provost Rev. Canon Evans Omollo told Citizen TV’s Daybreak that the incident had already been affected by political interference. He alleged that one suspect was released after a phone call linked to individuals connected to those alleged to have financed the operation. He also claimed that two complainants who reported stolen phones were each paid KSh 24,000 to withdraw their complaints.
“The said people who financed this stepped in to kill this case because of the publicity it has attracted,” he said.
ODM Party leader Oburu Odinga condemned the incident, calling for an end to what he described as a growing culture of hired political goons.
“We must make sure that culture is stopped in our country,” he said.
Police Investigation Ongoing
Police have confirmed that investigations into the All Saints Cathedral incident are ongoing as authorities seek to establish the full circumstances behind the alleged disruption and identify those responsible.
