Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 29-In former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s expansive Northlands Estate, life is slowly returning to normal, two days after more than 2,000 armed invaded it leaving behind a trail of destruction.
On March 27, the intruders arrived armed with machetes and clubs, before unleashing terror in broad daylight.
A simultaneous attack occurred at Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s East Africa Spectre Limited, a gas company in Embakasi.
Odinga has called for protests every Monday and Thursdays, accusing President William Ruto of stealing last year’s election and failing to control the surging cost of living.
Police have fired tear gas and a water cannon to break up protests with at least two people dead since the demonstrations kicked off last week.
In the full glare of onlookers and media cameras, the goons who appeared comfortable in their mission drove away sheep from Kenyatta’s farm, and cut down trees with power saws as others erected makeshift structures to signal a hostile takeover.
“It was horrible what we saw,” a vendor nearby said, “these guys had even the guts of slaughtering sheep on site. I mean what kind of confidence is that.”
On Monday, police fired tear gas in Nairobi and the western city of Kisumu — an Odinga stronghold — to disperse crowds, aiming canisters at cars carrying journalists in the capital, while looters went on the rampage.
Officers also used tear gas and water cannon as Odinga’s convoy moved through a congested neighbourhood in Nairobi, sending people running for cover.
One man was shot dead in Kisumu, the second fatality reported since the demonstrations kicked off the previous Monday when a student was killed by police fire in Maseno University.
When Capital FM News returned to the Northlands site on Wednesday, flower vendors, who do business on the roadside, had resumed operations.
A flower vendor who was in the area at the time of the incident says he was forced to abandon his business when the gang alighted from vehicles that ferried them there.
He recounts how some of them were ferried using buses and came from two different directions, some from the bypass area while others from the opposite direction.
“They had machetes and power saws and when they turned violent, I decided to run for my life,” the vendor who declined to be named added that the goons stepped on some of his flowers and made away with some.
He could not, however, quantify his losses saying he was still counting.
Another vendor, who wished to remain anonymous said that she also took off when she saw the goons who appeared bloodthirsty.
She only returned to the site on Wednesday to check if things had cooled down so that she could take stock of what was left of her business.
The water pipes which the vendors use to water their flowers was also destroyed by the attackers.
There were no uniformed police officers visible, unlike Tuesday when a huge team was deployed despite having stayed away on the fateful day.
President Uhuru Kenyatta or his family has not publicly commented on the invasion described by Raila Odinga as “acts of cowardice.”
However, private security guards could be seen patrolling the section of the land where the gangs gained access into the land.
Some of them were armed with bows and arrows and others with guard dogs.
One of the guards confirmed to us that there are no government security agents in the vast land.
“We are here to ensure security, anyone who tries anything will face our wrath and should not blame anyone,” Joseph Gichana says even as he pleaded with the public to refrain from invading private property.
The invasion has sparked mixed reactions from Kenyans and foreigners alike.
Many Kenyans are struggling to put food on the table, battling high prices for basic goods as well as a plunging local currency and record drought that has left millions hungry.
Foreign diplomats issued a statement late Wednesday condemning the acts but welcomed a pledge by the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome who vowed action on perpetrators after investigations.
Odinga and other Opposition leaders have accused a section of leaders in the government of orchestrating an attack on Northlands farm and Odinga’s East Africa Spectre Limited, a gas company based in Embakasi.
“Let there be no confusion here. Violence has been Ruto’s stock in trade against Kenyans whenever Kenyans have sought to change their lot and what happened yesterday (Monday) is not any different,” Odinga stated.
Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah who has been fingered by the Opposition as the main culprit denies the allegations, saying, “I know I spoke about the Kenyatta land the previous day but that does not mean I am involved.”
He claims that the invasions could have been stage managed to seek sympathy.
Odinga has vowed countrywide protests on Monday’s and Thursdays until the cost of living is brought down by the Kenya Kwanza administration while also protesting the victory he claims was stolen from by Ruto in the August 2022 elections.
