Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti now claims that the destructions witnessed in parts of the county during last Tuesday’s anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations were executed by non-residents.
Ndeti, without mentioning names, claimed goons were hired to destroy properties in Machakos.
“I’m sure there are some thugs that were brought to come and destroy some properties in Machakos. I have kept quiet, I haven’t spoken about it. Machakos people are not stupid to destroy their properties,” Ndeti said.
She spoke in Athi River town, Mavoko subcounty on Monday.
Ndeti claimed the residents had been conducting peaceful demonstrations on the fateful day when they were infiltrated by the goons leading to the destruction.
Part of the Machakos County headquarters within Machakos town was torched, including at least two vehicles while others were destroyed by the rioters in the demonstrations.
Other than the county headquarters, a section of the Machakos County Assembly was also burnt down while several motor vehicles that were at its parking during the incident were equally destroyed.
Kangundo MP Fabian Kyule’s National Constituency Development Fund’s office was also torched as well as the county government’s Kangundo subcounty officers and a tractor.
The rioters engaged police in running battles across the county in the better part of the fateful day before they torched and destroyed the mentioned properties.
Police hurled teargas canisters at the demonstrators to disperse them.
The police engagement with demonstrators went until dusk in Machakos CBD.
“I’m asking police, hao walikuja kuingilia wale vijana walikua wanaandamana peacefully, waliharibu mali. Let them be dealt with because at the end of the day if we spoil what is ours. I’m now going to spend a lot of money trying to repair what was damaged instead of doing new development,” Ndeti said.
“I want to thank our people, they didn’t allow them to go far. What I’m requesting is that if you want to demonstrate, we don’t have a problem. But, let us not destroy our property."
Ndeti said street lights were also destroyed in Machakos town during the demonstrations.
She urged local youths to identify and expose any criminal elements disguised as protesters.
“We cannot allow people to destroy our property. If you spot them, point them out,” Ndeti said.
