The National Council of Churches of Kenya has sounded the alarm over the rising wave of political violence in the country, warning that the deployment of hired goons to disrupt gatherings and intimidate opponents is threatening the fabric of Kenya’s democracy.
The church leaders’ concerns come amid a troubling escalation in what many are calling “goonism” — the organized use of paid thugs to cause chaos at political events. Multiple incidents have been reported in recent weeks, with politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition trading accusations about who is responsible for funding the violence.
A Dangerous Precedent
The NCCK, which represents mainstream Protestant churches across the country, called on all political leaders to denounce the use of violence and hold their supporters accountable. The council warned that the normalization of hired goons could plunge the country into chaos well before the 2027 general election.
This is not the first time Kenya has grappled with political violence. The country’s history is scarred by episodes of election-related unrest, most notably the 2007-2008 post-election violence that left over 1,000 people dead. Church leaders say the current trajectory bears worrying similarities to those dark days.
Politicians Point Fingers
The war of words between political camps has only intensified. Leaders aligned with President William Ruto’s government and those in the opposition have each accused the other of bankrolling goons to cause mayhem. The accusations have played out in public, with little evidence of either side taking concrete steps to de-escalate.
Security analysts say the use of hired thugs is not new in Kenyan politics, but the scale and brazenness of recent incidents suggest a worrying escalation. With political temperatures rising ahead of 2027, there are genuine fears that the situation could spiral out of control if decisive action is not taken.
The NCCK has urged Kenyans to reject politicians who employ violence as a political tool and called on security agencies to crack down on those responsible for organizing and funding the goons.
