Fresh allegations have emerged over the disruption of a post-budget forum at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, after a man claiming to have participated in the incident detailed how the operation was allegedly organised and executed.

During an interview, the man alleged that he and several others were recruited on Thursday evening for what they believed was an assignment targeting a political event linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“Akatuambia kuna shughuli ya Rigathi Gachagua tao,” he recalled.

According to his account, participants were promised Ksh.2,000 each and instructed to arrive with motorcycles, travelling in pairs.

He claimed that upon arriving in Nairobi’s central business district on Friday, the plan changed and the group was instead directed to All Saints Cathedral, where civil society groups had gathered for a discussion on the national budget.

The man further alleged that plain-clothes police officers embedded within the group directed movements and coordinated the operation.

“Kufika huko tukaingia na ma pikipiki, hao mapolisi tulikuwa nao wakasema hii inachoma,” he said.

He claimed the officers instructed them to move their motorcycles to a nearby construction site believed to be beyond the reach of surveillance cameras.

However, the plan was allegedly abandoned after members of the group noticed CCTV cameras at the location. According to the account, the operation was called off and some participants fled before receiving the promised payment.

The man also alleged that similar assignments have occurred in the past and claimed that politicians regularly hire such groups during political activities. He further alleged that some organisers encourage theft during the operations.

Expressing concern over the aftermath of the incident, he claimed that while those who allegedly financed the operation remain free, some participants are now being pursued by law enforcement agencies.

“Kama mtu alikuwa hapo hatukujua itakuwa hivyo mpaka saa hii polisi wanakimbizana na watu,” he said.

Meanwhile, All Saints Cathedral Provost Rev. Canon Evans Omollo alleged that efforts had been made to interfere with the case following the incident.

Speaking during an interview, Omollo claimed that one of the suspects arrested had later been released after intervention by individuals linked to the alleged financiers. He further alleged that two complainants whose phones were reportedly stolen during the chaos were compensated to withdraw their complaints.

“The said people who financed this stepped in to kill this case because of the publicity it has attracted,” Rev. Canon Omollo said.

“The guy was released. Two people whose phones were allegedly stolen and went to complain were reimbursed 24,000 each so that this case is killed,” he added.

ODM leader Oburu Odinga also condemned political violence and called for an end to the use of hired groups during political activities.

“I think the nature of goonism where you have goons for hire by everybody, they are hired by both sides, that nature of goonism we as leaders should take care of,” Odinga said.

“We must make sure that culture is stopped in our country,” he echoed.

Police have confirmed that investigations into the incident remain ongoing.