A disturbing video has surfaced allegedly showing an individual identified as Gaucho assembling a group of youths from Kibera to disrupt peaceful protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday, casting a shadow over claims by government-aligned bloggers that protesters were responsible for the violence.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, reportedly captures Gaucho orchestrating the chaos, including the torching of two vehicles, in what activists claim was a deliberate attempt to discredit the ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
According to sources, the video evidence first emerged following a broadcast on Mutembei TV on Wednesday, where Gaucho was seen stopping at City Hall to deliver a speech.
He was cheered by a group of motorbike-riding youths, who sources now allege were the same individuals later involved in the violent acts. These youths, described as hired goons, were reportedly tasked with infiltrating the protests to create a narrative of violence, thereby justifying a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.
Activists and eyewitnesses have identified at least five of the individuals involved, all hailing from Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum. The named youths were allegedly seen setting fire to two unused vehicles in the CBD during Thursday’s protests, which were organized to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, a political blogger who died in police custody.
The demonstrations, initially peaceful, descended into chaos as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while the goons’ actions escalated tensions.
The allegations against Gaucho have fueled public outrage, with many accusing the government of sponsoring the disruption to undermine the protests.
“The government bloggers saying protesters are violent must remember that we know who coordinated the burning of vehicles in town,” said a prominent activist on X, urging authorities to investigate Gaucho and his associates.
Critics argue that the tactic of hiring goons to sabotage protests is not new, pointing to similar incidents during the 2023 anti-government demonstrations and the 2024 #RejectFinanceBill protests.
The National Police Service (NPS) has yet to comment on the allegations against Gaucho or the identified Kibera youths. However, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is already investigating the broader context of Thursday’s protests, including the death of Ojwang, which sparked the unrest.
The European Union and the United States have called for a transparent probe into the blogger’s death and the subsequent violence.
As Nairobi braces for potential further demonstrations, civil society groups have condemned the use of hired goons to disrupt civic action, calling for accountability and protection for peaceful protesters.
The incident has intensified demands for reforms to address police conduct and political interference in public demonstrations, with many Kenyans vowing to continue their fight for justice despite the orchestrated chaos.
