Rogue police and goons spill blood despite Raila, Ruto peace pact

Police disperse crowd at Kisii National Polytechnic trying to block United Opposition convoy, after earlier disruption attempts by goons. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] Cases of police working with goons to disrupt meetings called by anti-government leaders are becoming common. From Witima Church in Nyeri to Kitengela, Kakamega, and Kisii, police have been lobbing teargas canisters and shooting indiscriminately during the rallies. Before his death, ODM leader Raila Odinga had signed an MoU with President William Ruto to stop the weaponisation of State agencies. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has talked tough, cautioning rogue officers and goons that they are still walking free even after killing and injuring innocent Kenyans. Church leaders have warned the country could go the Haitian way if the government continues to allow goons to operate with the police. The State agencies in the criminal justice system are also now accusing each other of sleeping on the job. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Igonga defended his office, saying he could only move to court after receiving files from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). "ODPP is at the tail end of anything unless the investigations are done. The way investigations are carried out and evidence collected, this is what informs the DPP to go to court. If the evidence does not meet the threshold, you'll find in some of the cases we don't go to court," he said. One of the latest tragedies is the shooting to death of a supporter of one faction of the ODM party in Kitengela. Police disperse crowd at Kisii National Polytechnic trying to block United Opposition convoy, after earlier disruption attempts by goons. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] There was another incident where police shot a 22-year-old woman in Huruma in Nairobi last week, while goons with the help of police tried to disrupt rallies by the Opposition leaders in the Gusii region. Last month, the Opposition penned a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, highlighting 23 incidents where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was attacked and his rallies disrupted. The incidents included the ACK Witima attack on January 26, the disruption of a church service at AIPCA Kiamworia on January 11, the attack on Gachagua's convoy at Sagana on January 9, the disruption of a rally in Nyeri on January 8, and the blockage of his entry in Narok on November 24. "On November 30, police and goons stormed PCEA in Kariobangi and disrupted the service, while on July 20, in Subukia, Gachagua and his supporters were attacked by police using live ammunition. On July 27 2025, at Kinyona, Murang'a, his supporters and elected leaders were attacked by goons backed by police, and on August 21, Gachagua was attacked upon his return from the US," said the Opposition. "These attacks have occurred across multiple counties, often in the presence of police officers, and in several instances with the apparent participation, facilitation, or acquiescence of officers of the National Police Service." It appears the deadly pattern has not changed since the 2024 and 2025 anti-government protests, when unarmed youth were brutally shot dead. According to the embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the government was not keen on the 10-point agenda meant to end State lawlessness. In an interview on NTV yesterday, Sifuna accused the State agencies of endangering leaders, claiming goons barricaded the Kisumu International Airport and that travel details were leaked to security officials. He questioned whether the Kenya Airports Authority could guarantee passenger safety and accused airlines of breaching protocols. He blamed the police and hired gangs for the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Vincent Ayomo in Kitengela, while accusing Ruto and Murkomen of bearing responsibility for alleged police brutality and "state-sponsored violence". Anglican Church Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to rein in premature and aggressive campaigning, warning that escalating tensions and the emergence of organised gangs pose a serious threat to national stability. He drew parallels between Kenya's current state and the descent into lawlessness witnessed in Haiti. "We have entered a culture we haven't seen before, of people called goons who are hired by politicians. I want to warn Kenyans that what is happening in Haiti started just like this." Muranga Bishops Forum Chairperson Stephen Maina urged politicians to be cautious. "Politicians must understand their tongues can burn the country; they must understand that their statements may incite communities against each other and refrain from causing instability. State agencies must independently investigate and arrest the culprits," he said. The pact between Raila and Ruto, on March 8 last year, promised to promote integrity in national leadership, eliminate wastage of public resources, win the war against corruption, and safeguard the right to peaceful assembly. But almost a year later, nothing has come out of it. "A deadline of March 7 was given to the committee for it to submit its final report. I am here to sound the alarm that the committee has 30 days to give us a final report," said Sifuna.

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