By:Robert Mutasi
Nairobi Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha has issued a stern warning to a section of politicians accused of mobilizing goons to cause chaos and loot property, saying their days are numbered and the government will not be soft on them.
Speaking on Monday after inspecting several national government projects being implemented in Nairobi, including the ongoing construction of the Talanta Sports Stadium and the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC), Onyancha called on members of the political class to exercise restraint as the country heads towards the polls.
“So even as we do things in this city or in this region, let us do it knowing that we have a country, we have a region and if you are a politician and you are going to get involved in mobilizing youths, because the youth that you are mobilizing are not going to deal with cows or goats. They are going to deal with other human beings also who have human rights. So the message we are giving to politicians is that we are not going to be soft on you. We’ll come hard,” Onyancha warned.
The Regional Commissioner was accompanied by Acting Head of the Government Delivery Unit (GDU) Orlando Sitati and other senior government officials during the site visit.
Onyancha at the same time revealed that the ongoing mega projects will be completed before the end of the year and are already benefiting thousands of young people through direct employment.
“Overall, we have close to 5000 youths that are involved in these three projects. On the completion of projects, each project has its own timeline, I think that you can get on the site, but I’ve said that each project is going to be finished on time,” she said.
The Talanta Stadium, which is being constructed along Ngong Road, is expected to be Kenya’s premier football facility with a 60,000-seater capacity and is part of Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The Bomas International Convention Complex is also earmarked to become a major conferencing hub in the region.
On his part, Acting Head of the Government Delivery Unit Orlando Sitati faulted those poking holes into government projects, saying the initiatives are meant to change the lives of Kenyans and should not be politicized.
Sitati defended the government’s development track record, noting that the projects under inspection are progressing well despite criticism from some quarters.
The warning from the Nairobi RC comes at a time when the country has witnessed a series of youth-led protests, some of which have turned chaotic with reports of goons infiltrating demonstrations to loot businesses and destroy property in Nairobi’s Central Business District and other towns.
The government has maintained that while it respects the right to peaceful assembly and picketing as enshrined in the Constitution, it will not tolerate anarchy and destruction of property.
Security agencies have been put on high alert to ensure law and order prevails, especially around critical infrastructure projects.
