Murkomen deflects criticism over goon violence to Kanja

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen before a joint parliamentary Energy Committee at Hilton Garden Inn, Machakos, February 12, 2026. [File, Standard]

The ongoing debate about taming goon culture in the country is turning out to be a blame game as top leaders, Kenyans and the clergy call for stricter measures by security forces to curb the menace.

This comes amid the rising cases of armed men tasked to disrupt key political and social events being witnessed, with recent incidents being the Ol Kalou by-election.

On Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who has been under pressure to exercise his authority, appeared to have rolled the ball to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to deal with goons, even as he insisted that his role largely involves policy implementation.

“The Inspector General of Police is not under the command of CS Murkomen. I want to say that I have no authority to direct the Inspector General of Police in the performance of his duties to investigate and to carry out policing responsibilities,” Murkomen stated

He was speaking at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters during the launch of the Multi-Biometric Identification System that will now replace the use of ink when capturing biometric details when applying for police clearance certificate.

“I can only give policy directions and support the department. I believe the DCI officers who are here are well-trained officers to investigate any crime,” the CS added.

Murkomen who also downplayed that the goons were all over the country terrorising Kenyans, linked the armed men to politicians, asking the security agencies to now deal with them irrespective of their political standing.

“I must assure the people of Kenya that this issue of goons and goonism is not as bad as being exaggerated. It's actually hyped around politics and politicians, and all these politicians have had bouncers, so-called bodyguards that from time to time get converted to goons,” he added.

The CS however, steered clear of why no suspect has been arrested following shocking scenes that were captured during the just concluded Ol Kalou by-election.

Murkomen hit out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over claims that several women were sexually abused during the July 16 polls.

“For anyone to say that 68 women were raped in Ol Kalou by police officers and that it has not been investigated and that they have not reported to any police station, that is really serious,” he stated.

Pointing out, “And for him to go further now to perpetuate his lie that those 68 women were treated in private hospitals and released to go home, I would like to ask all those private doctors in private hospitals who purportedly treated 68 people to report all those cases to DCI and to the necessary institutions.”

Over time, there has been debate about who protects the goons, with all indications pointing to some senior politicians, and every documented case going without one being held accountable.

President William Ruto’s this week directive to security agencies to crack down on “goons” and criminals was met with public scorn and fierce opposition from Gachagua, who insists the President is targeting the wrong problem.

The core of Gachagua's accusation is that the goons Ruto claims to be fighting are, in fact, rogue police officers, and that police officers actively protect non-police goons.

This accusation is supported by a growing body of evidence and documented incidents from reputable media houses across Kenya.

On July 3, 2026, in Keumbu, Kisii County, video footage captured police officers standing in proximity to stone-throwing goons who attacked the Linda Mwananchi convoy without intervening.

Siaya Governor James Orengo condemned the attack, accusing police of escorting the goons.

On July 12, 2026, in Kisumu, goons armed with bows, arrows, machetes and stones openly marched through the city streets in broad daylight, reportedly passing by the Nyanza Regional Police Headquarters before attempting to storm St Stephen’s ACK Cathedral.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga said that the attackers passed security installations without any police intervention. Witness accounts claimed that police who were present did nothing and seemed to encourage the criminals.

The violence left two people dead and multiple motorcycles torched.

On January 25, 2026, in Nyeri, plainclothes police officers and goons lobbed teargas into ACK Witima Church during a service attended by Gachagua, violating a High Court order protecting places of worship.

Officers fired live bullets and teargas into the church, with worshippers, including children and the elderly, being traumatized. Vehicles belonging to worshippers and politicians were vandalized at the watch of police. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) condemned this as a heinous and barbaric act.

During the parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou, Gachagua alleged that over 2,000 police officers, including GSU and ASTU platoons, were deployed with plainclothes and hooded officers who terrorised voters. He claimed two people were killed and twenty injured.

Ol Kalou MP-elect Sammy Waweru confirmed the violence, claiming goons attacked innocent journalists and that the "goonism was planned and funded by members of parliament from the Mt Kenya region, supported by senior police officers."

Gachagua has directly accused the Interior CS Murkomen and PS Raymond Omollo of transforming the Ministry of Interior into a "Ministry of Goonism and Coordination of Terror against Kenyans."

On Wednesday, clergy led by Anglican Church Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit warned that the 2027 General Election may not be free and fair if goonism culture is not dealt with as soon as possible.

The archbishop was speaking after leading a cleansing and prayer service of facilities at the All. Saints Cathedral following last month's attack by goons on members of the public attending a post-budget analysis forum at the Cathedral.

On the material day, armed goons who were earlier dropped by motorcycles stormed the church with some of them snatching handbags and mobile phones from women as other people scampered for safety.