Why raid on Kenyatta farm is haunting Mt Kenya leaders

When goons raided former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family farm in Ruiru on 27 March 2023, few imagined the incident would remain a heated political issue two years later.

This week, the debate resurfaced, pitting pro-government leaders from the Mt Kenya region against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached a year ago.

Witnesses say the attackers, armed with crude weapons, stormed the Northlands farm, felled trees with power saws, lit fires, and stole sheep and goats, which were reportedly sold at throwaway prices of between Sh500 and Sh1,000 each. Some of the intruders erected temporary structures on the farm.

The government maintained silence at the time, even after the farm’s management notified police of the invasion. Opposition politicians claimed that police officers who had been stationed in the area were recalled to Nairobi.

Two years on, no arrests or charges have been announced in connection with the thefts, destruction of property, and arson.

The matter has since been elevated into a political row. After a falling-out with Gachagua following his impeachment, some Mt Kenya politicians have accused the former deputy president of masterminding the invasion, alleging he ordered the withdrawal of police to facilitate the raid.

Azimio protests

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah now claims he had been summoned by Gachagua to the Harambee House Annex, where the then deputy president instructed the Inspector-General of Police to withdraw officers to give the raiders easier access to the Kenyatta farm.

“He summoned me at the Harambee House Annex and directed the Inspector-General of Police to withdraw the police, at a time when the President was out of the country, so that he could facilitate goons organised by two Nairobi MPs to break the fence and fell trees at the farm,” Ichung’wah claimed in an interview with Inooro TV.

Ichung’wah was defending remarks he made in March 2023 when he threatened that Kenyans would raid Uhuru’s farm “if he continued sponsoring the Azimio protests.” He now says he was asked by Gachagua to issue the warning because the deputy president’s position precluded him from making such pronouncements personally.

“On our way to Kianyaga Boys while on the plane, he told me that since I’m the majority leader, there were things he could not say as Deputy President, so I should warn Uhuru to stop destroying property in Nairobi because if he did, their farms would be destroyed by the people,” Ichung’wah said.

Ichung’wah further alleged that Gachagua took advantage of periods when President Ruto was abroad to direct heavy-handed police action against Azimio protesters.

“In 2023, when the President was out of the country, he said it was time to deal with Raila, and that is how Raila was teargassed mercilessly and his car shot at several times,” the Kikuyu MP said.

Money contributed

Separately, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba claimed the planning and execution of the Ruiru raid were discussed in a WhatsApp group of which she was initially a member but was later removed after she objected to the motive.

“Those who claim to be uniting the community should tell us why they have not reconciled with the goat owners. We should see them returning the goats and apologising for the theft. I was removed from the WhatsApp group for telling them I would not be party to stealing the goats,” she said.

She alleged there had been a meeting at Thika Greens where plans were finalised and money contributed to facilitate the raid. “Even if I am taken to court, I will repeat these words. Before people speak ill of me, they do so because there are things they do not want me to talk about,” Wamuchomba added.

Analysts say the episode is being revived for political advantage. Dr Charles Nganga of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) described the renewed focus as an attempt to create a bogeyman.

“I see this strategy as a self-preservation move to create a bogeyman who will be hated by the people for allegedly sponsoring the raid on Uhuru’s property. But it is not convincing. But they are not genuine because they would have called Gachagua out if he was the one behind the acts,” Dr Nganga said.