The family of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has refrained from commenting on the invasion of their properties by unidentified individuals on March 27, 2023. The incident, which occurred at Kenyatta’s Northlands farm in Kiambu county, led to the destruction of property worth millions of shillings. The goons broke into the expansive property by damaging the fence, stole goats and trees, and set fire to a section of the farm.
It was an unfortunate coincidence that the goons invaded the farm on the same day when Azimio leader Raila Odinga was leading countrywide demonstrations aimed at pressuring President William Ruto’s government to tackle the high cost of living and initiate electoral reforms. Key allies of President Ruto have accused ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta of funding these demonstrations.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa even warned publicly that Kenyatta’s farm could be attacked by goons if the former Head of State continued to fund Mr Odinga’s demonstrations.
The police stayed away from the farm for most of the day but visited it the following morning for investigations.
Apart from the former Head of State, who ruled Kenya between 2013 and 2022, before handing over power to President William Ruto at the end of his term, other prominent members of the Kenyatta family include Uhuru’s mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and his sibling, Muhoho. Mama Ngina, a former First Lady of Kenya, was one of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s wives.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta ruled Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978.
The raid on the Kenyatta’s Northlands farm has sparked social media debate, with some Kenyans condemning the attack. Raila Odinga pointed fingers at unnamed people in President William Ruto’s government, accusing them of being behind the attack, without providing any evidence. On the other hand, politicians aligned to the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition have suggested that the goons might have been sent by opposition-aligned Azimio politicians.
The Kenyatta family, with vast interests in farming, banking, real estate, and the dairy sectors, is among the wealthiest families in Kenya.