Mwangi Kiunjuri claims paid goons invaded Parliament during anti-tax demos

Laikipia East Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri. [File, Standard]

Laikipia East Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri has alleged that the June 25, 2024 invasion of Parliament was financed by a government-affiliated office.

In an interview on Inooro TV, Kiunjuri claimed that four MPs from the Mt. Kenya region organised about 20,000 individuals to protest in the Central Business District.

He suggested that Gen Z had their version of "Occupy Parliament," but there were people who were allegedly paid to attempt and overthrow the government.

"The office that funded the protests is known by the government. A pig fries itself with its own fat," he said, without naming the four MPs allegedly involved.

The former CS also noted that the anti-government protests were primarily concentrated in the Mt. Kenya region, unlike in other areas.

"It was the first time seeing protests infiltrate smaller towns such as Nyeri and Nanyuki. In other regions, like Rift Valley, protests occurred in towns like Eldoret but not in the interior parts of the region," he said.

In Kisumu, he added, the protests were limited to Migori, whereas in Mt. Kenya, the protests were widespread.

"We burnt our own people's property," he lamented.

Kiunjuri's statements followed President William Ruto's accusation that the Ford Foundation, an American organisation, was sponsoring anti-government protests in Kenya.

"Those who are sponsoring the violence, we know them, and I want to call out those who are behind the anarchy in Kenya. Shame on them!" President Ruto said. The young people in Kenya are not available to cause violence and anarchy in their own country. If they (Ford Foundation) are not interested in democracy in Kenya, they should either style up or ship out," said Ruto.