Sakaja condemns shooting of hawker, warns against property destruction by goons

Kariuki who is admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital in critical condition was shot and injured during demonstrations staged in the Capital to protest against the killing of teacher Albert Ojwang.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Governor Sakaja termed the shooting incident as a "deeply troubling and unacceptable" act that violates the principles of a democratic society.

He called for a thorough and independent investigation and stressed that the officer involved must be held fully accountable.

“Law enforcement must operate with professionalism, restraint, and respect for human rights,” Sakaja said. “This tragic incident must not be swept under the rug. Justice must be done — and seen to be done.”

At the same time the county boss denounced the surge of violence, looting, and destruction that has marred protests in the capital over the past week.

While reaffirming the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Sakaja said the vandalism, looting of businesses, and destruction of public infrastructure cannot be justified and must be met with legal consequences.

“What we’ve witnessed in Nairobi in recent days is heartbreaking — livelihoods destroyed, businesses forced to close, and public infrastructure damaged. These are criminal actions, not civil disobedience,” Sakaja stated.

He urged young people not to fall prey to manipulation by political operatives or criminal elements seeking to exploit demonstrations for personal or political gain.

“The right to protest does not override the rights of others to safety, work, and freedom of movement,” he said, adding that hired goons had infiltrated the protests to incite chaos and violence. “We will not allow criminal elements to hijack our democratic space.”

Sakaja called on the National Police Service to act firmly but fairly, ensuring that both those responsible for Boniface Kariuki’s death and the perpetrators of property damage are brought to justice.

“We must not create a society where citizens take the law into their own hands because they feel institutions are failing them,” he warned.

The Governor also appealed to Kenyans to use established democratic institutions like Parliament and the Judiciary to air grievances and seek reform, instead of turning to violence.