Ol Kalou chaos puts Murkomen on the spot as DCI probes hooded gang
Questions are now mounting who the hooded men brandishing rifles only possessed by state security agencies were and who is protecting them amid claims of a parallel security unit operating outside the commend of the National Police Service (NPS) formal structures and command. The hooded men ran riot in Ol Kalou on July 16, 2026 while the mini polls were underway despite a major security deployment of 1,000 security officers.
The government’s response to the violent scenes that marred the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has come under renewed scrutiny after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had opened investigations into the hooded men who terrorised voters, journalists and political supporters despite a heavy security deployment that left at least two people murdered.
The attacks, carried out in broad daylight, have fuelled criticism from opposition leaders, governance experts and civil society groups, who argue that the government’s decision to investigate after the violence rather than prevent it has raised troubling questions about security preparedness and accountability.
Questions are now mounting who the hooded men brandishing rifles only possessed by state security agencies were and who is protecting them amid claims of a parallel security unit operating outside the command and formal structures of the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja led National Police Service (NPS).
The hooded men ran riot in Ol Kalou on July 16, 2026 while the mini polls were underway despite a major security deployment of 1,000 security officers.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) completely distanced itself from armed, hooded men and unmarked vehicles that disrupted the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan clarified that these individuals were not part of the official security deployment.
Commissioner Hassan recalled that the commission had earlier directed security agencies to impound unmarked vehicles found interfering with the electoral process.
“Our security are well organized and under the police command. Anybody else outside that formation has already been reported to the police commander in charge of this area.”
Witnesses said the by-election, which had started peacefully, descended into chaos when hooded men travelling in sport utility vehicles stormed sections of Ol Kalou town.
The attackers were captured on video firing shots into the air, lobbing tear gas, brandishing weapons and dispersing crowds, sending terrified residents running for safety.
Journalists covering the exercise were also targeted.
One photographer reported being assaulted by masked men who allegedly confiscated his equipment while he documented the violence. Media organisations have condemned the attacks as an assault on press freedom and demanded swift prosecution of those responsible.
The incidents occurred despite the deployment of more than 1,000 police officers to secure the by-election, prompting questions from critics about how armed gangs were able to operate openly in the presence of a significant security contingent.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia County yesterday, Sunday, July 19, 2026 Murkomen said the DCI had opened an investigation file to establish the identities of the individuals captured in videos circulating online.
“The DCI has opened an investigation file to establish who these individuals are, the crimes they committed, who they harmed, and why they were there, so that appropriate legal action can be taken,” Murkomen said.
He urged witnesses to record statements with investigators, saying the completed files would be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for action.
Murkomen also dismissed allegations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that women were sexually assaulted during the violence, saying anyone with credible evidence should present it to investigators.
His remarks have drawn criticism from some observers who argue that, given the widespread circulation of videos showing the attacks, the government should be explaining how the violence occurred under heavy police presence rather than primarily appealing for members of the public to provide evidence.
The Ol Kalou violence has reignited concerns over the growing use of organised gangs to disrupt political activities, with analysts warning that the country risks sliding back into cycles of politically motivated intimidation as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather pace.
Human rights organisations say the recurring pattern of violence reflects a broader failure to dismantle criminal networks allegedly used during political contests.
They argue that while arrests of suspected attackers occasionally occur, investigations rarely identify or prosecute those who finance or organise such operations.
Murkomen has repeatedly pledged to dismantle criminal gangs involved in political violence and insisted that security agencies will pursue perpetrators regardless of political affiliation.
He also announced a fresh security operation targeting organised criminal gangs in Kitale and warned that similar crackdowns would be conducted in other towns.
