Of William Ruto's tough talk and zero action on goons

‎Residents protest along the Gilgil–Ol Kalou road at Chokereria after masked, armed men  fired shots into the air and assaulted locals following an incident involving a DCP campaign vehicle. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

President William Ruto has repeatedly directed security agencies to crack down on violent groups and criminal elements, focusing on incidents involving political hooliganism and the hijacking of public demonstrations, but his directives have not been adhered to, leaving questions on his commitment to wiping out goons or whether he was in control of the security agencies.

Yesterday, the President, for the fifth time, ordered the security forces to move expeditiously to curb the rise of criminal groups and stop criminality.

The President, while sounding an alarm on the rise of the unruly goon culture in the country, asserted that it was time to tame the vice, saying the rise of violent youthful groups had become a threat to national security and may cripple the nation's growth.

He added: "Now that we have a consensus, our security agencies must do their job within the law, and they must stop criminality. That is how we are going to secure Kenya's future even as we discuss this future of our nation in the context of what we are saying.

President Ruto's sentiments come after goons, believed to be politically sponsored, have disrupted several political events across the country, such as in Ol Kalou in the just-concluded by-elections.

Hooded and armed people concealed in masks and balaclavas, driving in high-end, number-plate-less SUVs, were seen lobbing teargas canisters at peaceful and unarmed electorate while the uniformed police officers looked on.

The heavily armed men not only attacked the electorate but also beat up Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) supporters who were intercepted while conducting campaigns with the road truck heavily damaged and nearly set ablaze.

Some of the vehicles ferrying the goons have been traced to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meetings.

The goons were being linked to the government, as many have testified to having received payments from politicians to cause mayhem, such as the invasion of All Saints' Cathedral in June this year where goons disrupted a budget review meeting.

An ACK pastor told the Citizen TV Morning show that the goons who disrupted the meeting were released after an intervention by a senior MP in Nairobi who had financed the attack.

During last year’s protests to demand justice over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, police officers who worked in cahoots with goons beat up protesters, saying, "Mtaheshimu President, you must leave him alone," remarks that raised concerns on whether the government had decided to work with goons to stifle dissent.

Such attacks have been meted out on Opposition leaders such as Gachagua and Linda Mwananchi leaders in their respective rallies, and yet no one has been arrested and charged.

A week ago, supporters of ODM's Linda Mwananchi faction sustained injuries following an attack by goons on the political outfit's convoy as the leaders were on their way to Nyahururu and Keroka in Kisii on diverse dates.

 Among those caught in the middle of the fracas was United Green Movement Party presidential aspirant David Maraga, whose vehicle was among several attacked by armed goons.

In Nyahururu, the driver of Muranga Governor Irungu Kangata sustained serious injuries on the chest while other leaders were forced to run for their dear lives. In Keroka, armed youth pelted stones at the Linda Mwananchi convoy. Some were captured wielding clubs and targeting VIP vehicles.

On January 30, the Opposition leaders highlighted the 22 incidents when they were attacked either by the police or the goons while demanding arrests and prosecution of the suspects.

The incidents included the Witima ACK attack, disruption of a church service at AIPCA Kiamworia on January 11, the attack on Gachagua's convoy at Sagana on January 9, disruption of Gachagua rally in Nyeri on January 8, blockage of Gachagua’s entry in Narok by police on November 24.

“On November 30, police and goons stormed PCEA church 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.

Following the widely covered Witima attack that saw women and children scamper for safety after teargas was lobbed inside the church, the President on February 1 condemned the use of churches as venues for political disputes and directed police to arrest the culprits.

He acknowledged that citizens may engage in politics but insisted that the house of God must remain a space of peace, reflection, and worship.

 “All of us being Kenyans, we can engage in politics and seek leadership, but the house of God, at the altar, in the church, is a place of respect. Let us not bring politics, hatred, disputes, or chaos there. We want our churches to be a place of peace, a place of seeking God. And all of us, irrespective of who we are, irrespective of what we believe in, we must respect the place of God in our churches,” he said.

The President has directed all security forces to safeguard churches from violence and political interference.

“All arms of security must ensure that our places of worship are protected from unnecessary and useless, and retrogressive fights and politics. All of us have platforms outside the church where we can conduct our politics,” he added.

Despite his directives to the police, no suspect was arrested in connection with the attack while such cases surged under his watch.

On April last year, goons attacked Gachagua and congregants inside the PCEA Kasarani church, and in May, the unveiling of the DCP party was violently disrupted by goons, but no arrests ensued.

Other incidents when political rallies by the Opposition leaders were disrupted by goons included the disruption of opposition leaders' meeting in Nkubu, Meru on June 20, attacks on Opposition leaders in Chwele, Bungoma county in July, August, and a 2025 attack on Gachagua and his convoy at JKIA.

Despite the attacks, confrontations and repeated assurances that police have been investigating and Ruto’s many directives to the police, the political violence continues to be repeated as goons walk scot-free.

 Security analyst Stanley Kimure poured cold water on Ruto's assurances, saying no one will be arrested because the political violence had been sanctioned by the State.

“Ruto’s remarks are hot air; his administration is right at the crime scene, and the perpetrators are his officers and allies. His statement only tries to absolve himself from the blame, but Kenyans must ask themselves why violent incidents continue unabated,” he said.

Kimure said having been a victim of police abduction, he was forced to append his signature to a statement that allegedly associated Gachagua with teargas and bullets.

“I was abducted and told to frame Gachagua in the many incidences that police lobbed teargas, but I refused since they said they would kill me anyway. They later dumped me in a police station and I was later charged on trumped-up charges; therefore, the government is aware of goons and the use of rogue police and can't therefore act against it,” he said.