The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that political goonism and gangsterism are among the biggest threats to next year's General Election, the Daily Nation reported. The paper called the warning blunt. The election is due in August 2027.
According to the Nation, gangs are returning to Kenya's political arena. They are accused of intimidating opponents, disrupting rallies and turning public spaces into zones of fear. The paper said an ordinary farm implement is fast becoming a weapon of intimidation and violence.
In its analysis, the Nation said the IEBC warning raises questions about whether the country has learnt from its turbulent past. The paper linked today's political goons to Kenya's long and unfinished fight against criminal gangs, including the Mungiki sect.