PActivist Francis Gaitho has come out strongly against fellow activist Hanifa accusing her of betraying protesters during the recent #EndAbductionsKE demonstrations.
Gaitho claims that Hanifa misled demonstrators by taking them to the Central Police Station under the guise of delivering water to detained activist Okiya Omtatah, a move that allegedly led to several arrests.
“She led them there pretending they were taking water to Okiya Omtatah. Moments later, some of my comrades were arrested,” Gaitho stated, as he shared what he described as proof of her betrayal.
Francis Gaitho speaks during a past TikTok podcast. Photo: Francis Gaitho Source: TikTok
The accusations have caused uproar within activist circles, with many questioning Hanifa’s motives. Gaitho did not mince words in warning fellow protesters about blindly trusting individuals who may not have their best interests at heart. He emphasized the need for grassroots-level resistance instead of relying on prominent activists and influencers.
“You’re supposed to be in the downtown areas lighting fires and engaging police as you work your way up to the CBD and Statehouse,” Gaitho said, adding that such infiltration could easily derail the movement’s progress.
Activist Hannifa Farsafi. Photo: Citizen TV Kenya (Facebook Source: X
Gaitho also pointed fingers at X influencer Polo Kimani , alleging that he was working in concert with Hanifa to set him up. “You saw Polo Kimani kept insisting ‘niko wapi, niko wapi,’ so that he could hand me over to the police,” he said.
The incident has highlighted growing mistrust within Kenya’s activist networks, as fears of infiltration and sabotage mount. Activists have since called for tighter coordination and caution in their operations to prevent future betrayals.
All the same, it remains to be seen whether the movement will go past internal divisions.
