'Those were students!' Njeri Maina under fire after Super Metro denies ferrying goons to Kirinyaga

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'Those were students!' Njeri Maina under fire after Super Metro denies ferrying goons to Kirinyaga

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The claims were raised after Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina alleged that the vehicles were carrying people allegedly brought in to cause chaos at Gachagua’s meetings.

“Super Metro!!! I see you have transported Kasongo’s goons to Kirinyaga to wreck havoc at Riggy G’s meetings,” Maina tweeted on Sunday, August 23.

However, in a statement on Monday, August 24, Super Metro said the buses were carrying secondary school students who were on a recreational trip and had no links to political activities.

"The AIC Church Ziwani Nairobi has clarified that the buses spotted in Kirinyaga were carrying secondary school boys and girls who were heading for a hike at Kathandeni Forest in Gichugu Constituency," the statement read.

Super Metro further rejected the allegations linking the youths to political activities, saying their presence in Kirinyaga was unrelated to the meetings.

"The youths had no connection to political activities amid earlier claims that the buses were carrying people brought in to cause havoc at Rigathi Gachagua’s meetings," the statement added.

While making her claims, Maina warned the transport company of possible legal consequences if violence occurred during the meetings, saying organizers and facilitators would be pursued.

"As we legally come for the local organizers and facilitators. We shall also hold you legally culpable for aiding and abetting any violence that happens at any of the meetings today," she wrote.

After the clarification, Kenyans blasted the Kirinyaga lawmaker for reckless politicking, many slamming her for putting the lives of young men and women in danger and blatantly refusing to pull down her erroneous post even after she had been furnished with facts.

Charity Njeri wrote, "That was so reckless of her! imagine if the supporters reacted by torching three buses or harming the occupants. Even after she was told that she was wrong, she should have pulled down the tweet to avoid further damage to the Super Metro reputation as well as exposed danger to the people traveling!"

Someone else wrote, "This is not a laughing matter. Such misinformation by @Hon_Njeri_Maina could have serious repercussions to the persons traveling and even the company @SuperMetro_Ke and if I were them I’d sure them to hell and back!"

On his part, Brian Njiru said, "@SuperMetro_Ke should not let this slide. @Hon_Njeri_Maina threw a serious allegation that directly damages a brand built on trust and order. Defamation and inciting public panic against a SACCO transporting innocent church kids deserves a heavy lawsuit!"

The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in the Mt Kenya region, where Gachagua has been holding meetings as he seeks to consolidate his political base ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The movement of groups, colloquially known as goons, into areas hosting political gatherings has increasingly become a source of suspicion among rival political camps, with accusations of planned disruptions and mobilisation of supporters emerging as political temperatures rise.

Reporting originally appeared via Citizen Digital. Read the full source for additional context.