The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has sounded the alarm over a surge in political violence and impunity, accusing security agencies of standing by as supposed state-backed goons terrorize the public.
The commission warned that these organized groups are systematically disrupting political meetings, voter registration drives, and public events across the country. In response to the escalating chaos, the KHRC demanded the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, alleging he has failed his constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and protect citizens.
In a scathing statement, the rights body documented a series of violent incidents that rocked Kikuyu, Kitale, Roysambu, and Kisumu over the past week. The commission linked these attacks to militia groups specifically targeting civic and political participation.
“KHRC condemns the use of state-backed goons to violently disrupt lawful political activities and the ongoing voter registration drive,” the statement read.
The commission highlighted a particularly volatile incident on Saturday in Kikuyu, where organized groups stormed a meeting convened by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. According to the KHRC, these same individuals later blocked sections of the Southern Bypass, where they reportedly attacked and robbed motorists.
Beyond political rallies, the violence has hampered essential democratic processes. In Kitale, the KHRC reported that attackers targeted officials and citizens during a voter registration exercise, forcing a temporary halt to the process. The commission noted that these disruptions effectively stripped eligible citizens of their right to participate in the upcoming elections.
The commission detailed how the violence spread throughout the week, noting a Friday incident in Roysambu where a group allegedly targeted political aspirant James Munene during a graduation ceremony. This followed an attack on Wednesday in Kisumu, where Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi sustained injuries in what the KHRC identifies as part of the same coordinated campaign of disruption.
The rights body heavily criticized the police for their perceived passivity, pointing out that officers failed to intervene effectively in the majority of these cases. While authorities eventually arrested three suspects following the Kisumu assault, the KHRC noted that no significant action occurred regarding the other incidents.
“In all these incidents, police failed to intervene. The only exception was the later arrest of three suspects linked to the attack on Osotsi. No meaningful action has been taken in the other cases, pointing to the protection of these groups,” the statement said.
Warning of a dangerous slide toward lawlessness, the commission argued that this pattern of attacks reflects a deep-seated culture of impunity. The KHRC linked the current unrest to a broader history of suppressed civic participation, drawing parallels to the violent crackdowns on Gen Z protesters in 2024 and 2025. It cautioned that allowing these groups to operate without consequence threatens the very foundation of democratic engagement in the country.
The commission warned that the government’s tolerance of these groups cripples constitutional freedoms, destroys public trust in the police, and poses a direct threat to democratic participation. By allowing militias to interfere with lawful political and civic activities, the rights body argues that the state is effectively dismantling the country’s democratic foundations.
Directing its frustration at the top of the security command, the commission made its stance clear: “The Inspector General of Police should resign for failing to uphold law and order and protect citizens during civic actions,” stated the human rights body.
In its closing remarks, the KHRC demanded an immediate end to the state’s alleged reliance on hired muscle. The commission pressed authorities to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that every individual involved in orchestrating or executing these attacks faces full accountability under the law.
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