Revealed: These are the Kenyatta’s Northlands attack planners and financiers

Security organs were aware of the plot to raid retired President Uhuru Kenyatta family’s property but did nothing.

And when the invasion did happen on Monday amid anti-government protests led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, the target was the expansive Northlands farm at Kamakis on the Eastern Bypass in Kiambu County. It was looted and torched by a gang that was mobilised by some politicians.

Another attack was also staged at gas cylinder maker East Africa Spectre Limited, a company that is linked to the family of Mr Odinga, by a gang that was ferried from Dandora and Kayole.

Plans to raid the Kenyatta property were mooted last Friday and firmed up by Sunday evening.

Two MPs, a former governor and a popular Kiambu musician are among those who played lead roles in mobilising the gang last Friday when the plot to counter Monday’s demonstrations was hatched. The youths were recruited from Kiambu and Nairobi.

They were ferried from Ruiru, Githurai 45 and Gatundu South in Kiambu as well as Ruai, Kayole and Mathare in Nairobi. They were each paid Sh3,000, and handed machetes and a power saw that was used to mow down trees at the vast farm.

They are youths known to belong to a criminal formation going by several names but coalescing around doctrines of the proscribed Mungiki sect. They are always on standby to be recruited in real estate conflicts where several developers have an interest in one plot.

The intelligence was shared within relevant security circles. But no action or directive was issued until Monday when the invasion began.

Some of the gang members assembled early along the Githurai-Mwihoko road, which connects to the Eastern Bypass, in Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and were paid Sh3,000 and given machetes as they alighted.

They then headed to the vast land, which is known as Northlands City, where the Kenyatta family, is planning to build a Sh500 billion metropolis.

“As each person alighted from the PSVs, they were on the ground and handed us Sh3,000 each. They said they had enough cash for everyone and asked us not to fight for the money,” said a gang member. Boda boda operators based in the area said that they witnessed the gang members take the money.

“The buses arrived, dropped them and left. As they were alighting, some people were giving them money as we watched. When I saw the situation was getting out of hand, I left,” said one of the motorcycle operator. Two policemen kept watch but never interfered with the attack.

The goons breached the fence, and slaughtered sheep and goats, while others stole the animals —which they then sold for as little as Sh2,000 — and cut down trees with the power saw in a looting spree that lasted over 10 hours.

Some erected temporary structures to signify ownership as they chanted that they were “children of Mau Mau who were also entitled to land.”

Local security officials claimed they were instructed not to respond. Sub-county police bosses were instructed to keep reinforcements on standby to tackle rioters in Nairobi.

Private guards at the vast farm said they first reported the attack at the nearby Gatong’ora Police Station but they were turned away. The police station is located just five kilometres away from the farm. Another police station, Mwihoko, is a similar distance from the scene of crime.

“The police officers said that the matter was serious and beyond them,” said one of the guards.

He added that, after the police refused to record their statements, the workers just stood on the other side of the property and watched helplessly as the orgy of destruction went on. Another guard told Nation that the gang walked deep inside the land where they destroyed property, including houses and a pen where the sheep are reared.

The raiders had been advised to ensure that journalists did not cover the farm invasion “so that the effectiveness can be major and the damage maximum”.

Photojournalists were targeted for attack by the mob and forced to delete pictures.

“Hawa ndio wametumwa kutupiga picha (These are the people who have been sent to take our photos). We don’t want anyone taking us photos. You are the people against our government. Media haipendi serikali yetu (journalists don’t like our government),” one of the youths shouted as a mob attacked a Nation Media Group journalist on Monday.

In the evening, the gang left the area some heading towards the Ruai direction. However, they had left behind a huge fire which spread very fast. The private guards helped put it out. Another security agent says the trees that were cut from the farm have been traced to a timber yard owned by a former leader in Embakasi.

However, no police officer has been sanctioned to recover them and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is yet to release well-captured photos of the raiders and classify them as wanted.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome, when asked why officers did not intervene to stop the looting at the Kenyatta family farm in Kiambu, replied that there was no prior intelligence of chaos in Kiambu and security was only beefed up in Nairobi where authorities were anticipating demonstrations.