Kenya must confront the rise of political goons before it’s too late
These groups have become tools of intimidation in an increasingly toxic political environment
Kenya is staring at a dangerous and deeply troubling reality as witnessed by the creeping normalisation of political violence carried out by hired gangs, commonly referred to as “goons.”
What was once sporadic has now evolved into a pattern—coordinated, brazen and increasingly tolerated. If left unchecked, this culture threatens to erode democratic space, undermine the rule of law and plunge the country into instability as the 2027 elections approach.
Recent incidents paint a grim picture. On March 11, 2026, more than 100-armed men stormed a hotel in Kisumu, unleashing chaos and destruction.
Days later, activists and politicians alike have found themselves targets of similar attacks.
This week, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was brutally assaulted by a group of men at a café, sustaining serious injuries in Kisumu in broad daylight.
Political commentator Eric Monyancha was humiliated and beaten, while Kiambu Majority Leader Godfrey Mucheke was hospitalised after a violent ambush.
These are not isolated acts of hooliganism. They reflect a coordinated system where violence is outsourced to shadowy groups to settle political scores, silence dissent and intimidate critics.
Even more alarming are reports that some of these groups operate with the tacit approval—or outright complicity—of state actors.
Their modus operandi appears precise, targeted and smooth. That level of coordination and executed brazenly calls more to complicity rather than possibility of spontaneous acts of criminality.
The attack on the Kenya Human Rights Commission offices in 2025 was a chilling example.
Masked men stormed a peaceful press conference, targeting grieving mothers and disrupting calls for accountability.
During the Gen Z-led protests of 2024 and 2025, credible reports emerged of hired goons infiltrating demonstrations to incite chaos, loot property and justify heavy-handed police crackdowns. Such tactics are not just unethical—they are a direct assault on constitutional freedoms.
But the root cause of all these chaotic and anarchic scenes is a glaring failure of leadership within the security apparatus.
The knee-jerk reactions, occasional silence and inaction on the part of police, under Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) Douglas Kanja, have been deafening.
Time and again, victims have cried out for protection, only to be met with indifference. In some instances, police officers have been accused of standing by as attacks unfold, or worse, collaborating with perpetrators.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has also failed to inspire confidence.
Despite the high-profile nature of these attacks, there have been few meaningful investigations, arrests or prosecutions. This culture of impunity sends a dangerous message that political violence can be carried out without consequence.
Ultimately, responsibility rests with the top leadership of the Interior Ministry.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo have failed in their constitutional duty to ensure the safety and security of all Kenyans.
Their continued stay in office, amid escalating violence and public outrage, raises serious questions about accountability and political will.
It is particularly telling that Murkomen himself has acknowledged that outlawed sects in Kenya are often exploited by politicians.
This admission should have triggered decisive action to dismantle such networks.
Instead, the problem appears to have worsened, with these groups becoming tools of intimidation in an increasingly toxic political environment.
Kenya has a painful history with militia groups and outlawed sects—from Mungiki to other shadowy outfits—that have thrived in periods of political tension.
Allowing their resurgence, under whatever guise, is a reckless gamble with national stability. The lessons of the past are clear: once unleashed, such forces are difficult to control.
What is unfolding today is not just a law-and-order issue—it is a moral crisis. A nation cannot claim to uphold democracy while tolerating violence against its citizens.
The targeting of activists, opposition figures and ordinary protesters is an affront to the very principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The time for half-measures and statements is over.
Kenyans deserve decisive action.
The police must act independently and professionally, free from political interference.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations must pursue perpetrators relentlessly, regardless of their connections.
And most importantly, those at the helm of the Interior Ministry must take responsibility.
Murkomen and Omollo should step aside. Leadership is not just about holding office, instead, it is about accountability. Their resignation would send a powerful signal that failure to protect citizens has consequences.
As the country inches closer to the 2027 elections, the stakes could not be higher and the country stands at a crossroads; either confront and dismantle the machinery of political violence, or risk sliding into a cycle of fear, repression and instability.
