By Aaron Ross
NAIROBI (Reuters) -When protests are expected in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Swaleh Aroko grabs a wooden club and heads downtown.
The 34-year-old from the city’s Korogocho slum is one of dozens of stick-wielding young men who have taken to the streets to counter recent demonstrations triggered by the death of a blogger in police custody.
During protests over the past two weeks, Reuters reporters have repeatedly seen the men – labeled “goons” by the protesters – advancing alongside police officers toward groups of unarmed demonstrators, and beating them with sticks and rubber whips.
Their presence on the streets is heightening fears that violence will mar a large demonstration expected on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of a mass protest that culminated in the storming of parliament and several deaths through police gunfire.
Last week, Aroko and another counter-protester, Ronald Otieno, spoke to Reuters, saying they wanted to rebut misinformation about their actions over the past two weeks.
Aroko, who described himself as a reformed criminal, said the men were not goons but rather patriots defending property in the Central Business District against a small portion of protesters who loot and cause violence.
“You go behind and start throwing stones, we’ll take a cane to disperse you,” he said. “We don’t need to burn our country.”
Aroko did not directly respond to questions about what actions he had personally taken against protesters except to say that he was protecting businesses. He acknowledged that “it was messy” but blamed protesters for the violence.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a text message that the National Police Service “does NOT work with ‘goons'” and was analysing videos of certain incidents “with a view of taking appropriate action”.
According to Reuters reporters covering the protests, the demonstrators have mostly been peaceful, although there have been some instances of violence, including the torching of two vehicles on June 12 by unknown individuals. Protesters have also beaten up some of the counter-protesters.
‘GOVERNOR’S BOYS’
Counter-protesters also mobilised during demonstrations last June sparked by government plans to legislate higher taxes.
After President William Ruto withdrew the legislation, the protests, some of the biggest in Kenya’s recent history, fizzled out. But demonstrations broke out again this month over the death in police custody of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
Human rights activists say the counter-protesters, who have also been seen riding around Nairobi on motorcycles, chanting “No protests!”, amount to a militia they suspect was employed by powerful politicians and operates with support from the police.
Aroko and Otieno both said they were on “Team Sakaja”, a reference to Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja, a Ruto ally.
“It was our right as governor’s boys to protect our city,” said Otieno. He and Aroko did not elaborate on the nature of their ties to Sakaja.
Aroko denied that Sakaja or the city government were behind the counter-protests, which he said were financed by local businesspeople who “coordinate” with the police to protect private property.
He said he was paid 5,000 Kenyan shillings ($38.76) per protest.
Otieno, however, said they were acting at the request of county assembly members who had urged them to “come and protect our city”. He declined to name them.
Sakaja did not respond to a Reuters request for comment but denied in a statement to local media any affiliation with groups “that exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activity”.
A spokesperson for Ruto did not respond to a request for comment.
There was no immediate response from the Nairobi chamber of commerce to a request for comment on Aroko’s allegation of links between businesspeople and the counter-protesters.
Aroko and Otieno said they would be out on the streets again on Wednesday and warned protesters to stay in line.
“Come peacefully,” Aroko said. “Because the business community is ready for you. And the government here is ready for you. You can’t burn Nairobi because of one person.”
($1 = 129.0000 Kenyan shillings)
(Reporting by Aaron Ross, Editing by William Maclean)
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