Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen claimed Kenya does not have a goons crisis, dismissing claims that the country is facing a growing menace of political gangs.
Speaking in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu County, Murkomen dismissed claims that the presence of goons constituted a national crisis, accusing politicians of exaggerating the issue.
“Those who are trying to say that this country is in a crisis because of goons are liars. The crisis in this country is the bankruptcy of ideas by politicians who are unable to campaign, and they go and send goons to fight themselves and then want to make it a national crisis. There is no national crisis. Kenya is safe,” Murkomen stated.
Murkomen spoke as the National Police Service (NPS) absolved its officers of any involvement in the disruption of opposition meetings and denied protecting goons and criminal gangs accused of causing chaos at political events.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who was in Nyeri on Friday to assess preparations for next week’s pass-out parade of more than 6,000 officers at the Kiganjo Police Training College, said no evidence had been presented linking police officers to the disruptions.
Lagat also said the deployment of thousands of newly trained officers would strengthen the country’s ability to deal with emerging security threats.
Following months of condemnation from opposition leaders, who have accused the NPS of facilitating goons and criminal gangs during their political meetings, the police leadership has now defended its record.
“There is no complicity by security officers. We are there to enforce the laws that are provided for, and I don’t believe the police are partisan to this. What we know is that it is possible to deal with this,” Lagat stated.
Lagat also said the deployment of thousands of newly trained officers would strengthen the country’s ability to deal with emerging security threats.
Following months of condemnation from opposition leaders, who have accused the NPS of facilitating goons and criminal gangs during their political meetings, the police leadership has now defended its record.
“There is no complicity by security officers. We are there to enforce the laws that are provided for, and I don’t believe the police are partisan to this. What we know is that it is possible to deal with this,” Lagat stated.
He added that there was no evidence incriminating officers within the NPS, adding that the injection of about 10,000 new officers graduating from various institutions this month would help address security challenges.
“You will see how we are going to deploy them to help reduce the security challenges we have had before. I am aware that we have had challenges of goons and criminal gangs, and we have put in place strategies that will manage this kind of nonsense, this kind of uncalled-for insecurity as a result of goons,” Lagat noted.
The National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, which accompanied Lagat to Kiganjo, acknowledged the existence of criminal gangs and goons, saying political leaders were largely responsible for financing and mobilising them.
“What you are seeing in the country, these gangs and criminal groupings, almost entirely, if not all, are being sponsored by politicians, the men in ties, men in big offices,” the Committee chairman Gabriel Tongoyo, stated.
“This is not an issue of the National Police Service alone. It is an issue for everybody: the political class, the religious class, the students and the youth. We all have to work with the police and stop these criminal gangs,” he added.
The committee expressed confidence that the new generation of officers was adequately equipped to tackle emerging forms of crime and help maintain security ahead of next year’s General Election.
Elsewhere, Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Dr. Fred Matiang’i called for the resignation of President William Ruto and his entire administration, accusing the government of failing to address the growing cases of goon and gang violence in the country.
Speaking separately in Nairobi, People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) leader Ndindi Nyoro claimed there was a plot to make Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja a scapegoat for political violence witnessed during opposition rallies, while President Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen escape responsibility.
Speaking during the funeral service of the late Patrick Kiogora in Imenti South, Meru County, Matiang’i led calls for the immediate resignation of President Ruto and his Cabinet, accusing the administration of failing to tackle insecurity and curb goon and gang violence.
“Accept that you have failed Kenyans and that you are unable to lead this country. The government has failed to curtail goon violence,” he stated.
Matiang’i, who was accompanied by Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya, also rallied Mt. Kenya residents to vote President Ruto out in the 2027 General Election.
“He must be sent home for failing to deliver to Kenyans. He will not be the first president to serve only one term,” Matiang’i stated.
Munya also criticised the government over the high cost of living, claiming that millions of Kenyans were struggling to afford basic needs.
“Kenyans are suffering because of the high cost of living. About 2.5 million Kenyans cannot afford two meals a day,” Munya stated.
In Nairobi, Nyoro, while receiving delegates from Kajiado County at the PPK party headquarters, claimed there was a plan to remove IG Kanja from office as political violence escalates ahead of next year’s General Election.
Nyoro argued that responsibility for the violence should not rest solely with the Police IG, saying the entire security leadership, including President Ruto and CS Murkomen, should be held accountable.
“They want to use Douglas Kanja as a scapegoat. The entire security chain, starting with the President, has failed. Murkomen and the President should also resign,” Nyoro stated.
The Kiharu MP also warned against the use of criminal gangs in politics, saying such groups posed a threat to the country’s national security.
He urged opposition leaders to unite and form a coalition capable of challenging President Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
“The government has a responsibility to protect Kenyans,” Nyoro stated.
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