Two people were shot dead and four motorcycles torched during Tuesday, July 16 anti-government protests in Mlolongo, Machakos County.

The two were reportedly succumbed to bullet injuries allegedly inflicted to them by police officers who had been deployed to quell the demonstrations in Mlolongo township.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has strongly condemned the events of yesterday’s protests, where organized gang of criminals reined terror on bodaboda operators who were going about their normal business peacefully.

The county boss, in a statement, alleges that the criminal gangs were hired by political operatives in Mavoko and dispatched to attack bodaboda operators and other law-abiding members of the public with the aim of looting, robbing, and causing mayhem in the area.

“It is sad to note that the shameless criminals masquerading as peaceful demonstrators attacked, assaulted and injured dozens of bodaboda operators before seizing four motor bikes and setting them ablaze for no justifiable reason,” Governor Wavinya says.

She rued that such criminal acts would be planned by individuals who profess to be leaders, and “who expect to be respected for who they are.”

The assailants reportedly descended on different business establishments of local traders and looted them dry and robbed anyone on sight of their valuables.

“Today’s anarchy orchestrated by certain political leaders who are now hiding behind the protests to sabotage and frustrate my Government has caused permanent scars on the livelihoods of the people whose sources of livelihoods have been completely shattered. At this point, I call upon the police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and all the other security apparatus to round up these agents of anarchy and subject them to the due process of justice.”

The governor is also demanding a swift, thorough and conclusive investigation into the mayhem in Mlolongo.

“The schemers, planners and all the agents of the criminal activities in the entire criminal value chain must be brought to book. I fully acknowledge the provision of Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya that grants every citizen the right to peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to public authorities. I urge citizens to take caution against flouting this privilege donated by the constitution.”