Inside Kenya's battle to stop 'goons and guns' as fears of political violence grow

The history of politically sponsored criminal gangs dates back to the reintroduction of multiparty democracy, where unemployed youths are hired by politicians and turned into tools of electoral intimidation. [File, Standard]

On a quiet Wednesday last month, a Kenyan politician stopped for coffee after getting his hair cut in the western city of Kisumu.

Moments later, a group of hooded youths set upon Senator Godfrey Osotsi without warning - punching and kicking him, leaving him badly injured, stripping him of his phones and valuables before vanishing into the street.