Calls grow for Interior PS Omollo’s exit as political violence escalates

The goons menace that is increasingly taking hold in the country, especially its politics, reared its ugly head again on Wednesday this week in Kisumu when Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was assaulted inside a restaurant reportedly for opposing President William Ruto’s re-election bid.

At the same time, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo is facing mounting pressure to resign as concerns grow over the rising use of hired gangs in Kenya’s political landscape, following the latest case involving Senator Osotsi who is recuperating at a Nairobi hospital after he was airlifted from Kisumu hours after the attack.

Osotsi was assaulted on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in broad daylight inside a Kisumu restaurant.

Osotsi and opposition leaders have termed the attack as “politically motivated”.

The attack has intensified fears over increasing political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“Having seen the clip and having listened to the Senator, there is absolutely no reason why those individuals who attacked Osotsi would not have been apprehended by now,” Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka lamented.

He called for the resignation of Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo over the police inaction.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino also called for PS Omollo’s sacking.

Even as he came under sharp criticism pushing for his resignation with leaders accusing him for allegedly bankrolling the goons, PS Omollo was categorical that the those using violence must be brought to book.

“The use of violence has increasingly come to define our political engagement, a development that threatens the core of our democratic discourse. The government is taking firm and deliberate measures to curb this trend and restore order,” Omollo said through his X, formerly Twitter handle.

“We further caution against the mobilisation of youth for acts of violence and call for their redirection towards meaningful and constructive opportunities that safeguard their future and the stability of the nation,” PS Omollo added .

”Any leader who uses goons for criminal purposes must be held to account,” the PS after Osotsi’s Kisumu attack.

So far, DCI detectives in Kisumu have arrested three suspects alleged to be behind the attack of Senator Osotsi at a restaurant in Kisumu on Wednesday this week.

The three suspects are Carlos Owiti alias Kalonje (24) and Vincent Odhiambo alias Tinga (27), both from Nyalenda, and Eric Otieno alias Dude (39) from Manyatta.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the trio were nabbed following intelligence operations and a tip-off from the public.

The incident comes barely a month after Osotsi was removed as a deputy party leader of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over his stance on the proposed broad-based government and coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Osotsi was last month ousted as one of the ODM deputy party leaders over his stance on the broad-based government and negotiations with UDA to ink a pre-election coalition agreement.

The incident comes amid rising concern over the use of hired goons by politicians to attack their rivals as the 2027 General Election nears.

Incidentally, it happened on the day Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua was urging President William Ruto to direct the arrest and prosecution of goons who attacked churches, including PCEA in Mwiki in Kasarani, Nairobi and ACK churches in Othaya, Nyeri, during services he was in attendance.

A showdown is also expected today in Kikuyu constituency where Rigathi alleged that some goons have been hired to cause mayhem.

Kikuyu constituency is represented by Kimani Ichungw’ah who also doubles as the National Assembly Majority Leader.

Interior Cabinet Kipchumba Murkomen has previously admitted the use of goons by politicians on both sides of the divide, including governors.

“There are people who support the government, but they invest in gangs. We cannot condone this issue of gangs and we cannot protect them simply because somebody is supporting or opposing the president. This is an issue we intend to deal with decisively, without fear or favour,” he said in December last year following an attack at a PCEA church in Kariobangi North at which Gachagua was also present.

We will act against everyone involved, whether they are in government or in the opposition. We will not spare anyone because we want to save our nation.”

To complicate the situation, however, there has been concern that the politicians have used the goons even at presidential events, rendering the police helpless even as they cause havoc on citizens by mugging and assaulting them.

Beside politics, goons have also been used in other missions such as the night eviction of former Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju from his multi-billion business premises in Karen and the attack on former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera’s hotel in Kisumu.

With the 2027 elections expected to be heated at various levels, there are fears that the goons menace will only worsen with huge security implications.

“Acts of political violence, intimidation, and lawlessness regardless of who is targeted have no place in our democracy. They are simply archaic. Kenya is a Constitutional Democracy governed by the rule of law.  Every leader and every has the right to move freely, assemble peacefully, and express their views without fear. These rights are guaranteed by our constitution,” Democracy for Citizens Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua said after the incident.

“The disturbing events reported in Kisumu are not isolated. In recent weeks, we have seen various leaders who are opposed to this government attacked and intimidated. Such actions are intended to intimidate and silence political opposition. This is an assault to democracy and an act of cowardice.”