Kenyan Politicians Hire Armed Thugs to Disrupt Opposition

Politicians in Kenya are increasingly employing armed mercenaries, known as goons, to disrupt opposition gatherings and target civil rights organizations. A study by the research firm Odipo Dev reveals these individuals are paid between 500 and 1,000 shillings per day. Recent violence includes a lethal raid on an opposition rally in southwest Kenya and an attack on All Saints Church in Nairobi.

Evidence from CCTV footage and reports indicates that police officers may be colluding with these gangs or remaining passive during attacks. William Ruto, the President of Kenya, faces accusations of increasing the use of such groups to suppress youth-led protests, a practice linked to historical political violence and the Youth for Kanu '92 organization.

National Police Service spokesperson Michael Muchiri has dismissed allegations of official cooperation as preposterous. Meanwhile, the rights group Vocal Africa warns that the trend threatens the possibility of free, fair, and peaceful elections in 2027.