Arson
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire on Friday toured the County Headquarters office block that was on Tuesday burnt down during anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests to assess the damage.
The office block was among two other Government offices including UDA and KRA that were rampaged and torched during the ugly protests that also left over 10 Private and County vehicles burnt down. She ruled the destruction as an act of arson that was well planned and executed by hired goons who infiltrated the peaceful protest by Gen Zs.
She accused some area leaders who were her political adversaries of sponsoring the attacks to undermine her administration. The County Chief alleged that planners paid a sum of Sh350,000 to the goons including some from neighboring Kirinyaga County to carry out the attack.
“It is reckless to destroy Government property to sabotage service delivery to the people just because of political selfishness,” she said she asked her enemies to face her directly instead of hampering service delivery through such barbaric acts.
“Leave the property and the people of Embu alone and come for me, deal with me, if you want me to die, kill me, instead of destroying the property and the things people depend on,” she said.
She said they were working with investigative agencies to unmask the planners and executioners with a view of bringing them to book. Governor Mbarire said they had been getting crucial evidence including photos and video recordings from members of the public that will aid in nabbing the culprits.
She said the county had been dealt a big blow with losses running into hundreds of millions, noting an assessment of the actual loss is being undertaken. “The County has been taken back financially, but we shall not be cowed, and no one will slow down,” she said.
Consequently, she reported that relocation of officers had been undertaken and services will continue unhindered.