STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA
Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has come out guns blazing, distancing himself from the wave of chaos that engulfed Embu town on Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction, looted shops, and shattered livelihoods.
In a strongly worded statement, the youthful MP rubbished claims linking him to the violent protests, insisting he spent the entire day attending a friend’s burial within his constituency.
“I have seen people trying to drag my name into yesterday’s demonstrations. Let it be clear I was at a burial, mourning a friend. I had nothing to do with what happened in town,” Mukunji stated.
The demonstrations spiraled out of control, turning from what appeared to be a peaceful march into scenes of raw anarchy. Protesters clashed with anti-riot police before eventually overpowering them and launching a looting spree. High-profile establishments including the Safaricom Shop, KRA offices, NSSF, and Mathai Supermarket bore the brunt of the destruction.
Mukunji, who has previously led peaceful protests such as the one following the abduction of youth activist Billy Mwangi said the Embu chaos did not mirror the discipline of past demonstrations.
“We demonstrated before for Billy, and not even a stone was thrown. What happened yesterday was pure criminality, and those responsible must be held to account,” he said.
The legislator also took a swipe at Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who earlier alleged that there were plans to ferry goons from Kirinyaga County to wreak havoc in Embu town.
“We heard the governor on Tuesday evening claiming goons were being ferried in from Kirinyaga. That is serious. If she has information, she must record a formal statement and help investigators nab the culprits,” he challenged.
Mukunji called for thorough investigations to identify who mobilized the vandals and who looted the businesses, adding that genuine protesters and criminal elements should not be lumped together.
“This is not about politics it is about protecting livelihoods and ensuring our town does not descend into lawlessness. The perpetrators must be brought to book,” he emphasized.
As smoke cleared from broken storefronts and heartbroken traders counted their losses, the spotlight now shifts to law enforcement agencies to unearth the masterminds behind the anarchy and ensure justice for Embu.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
No comments
Post a Comment