Protesters light bonfires in Kisii town on June 25, 2025 during protests in memory of those who were killed in the 2024 Gen Z protests.
The politics of thuggery is slowly taking centre stage in Kisii County after a series of brazen attacks — allegedly sponsored by political leaders — spread fear and despondency among residents.
Locals are now appealing to security agencies to step up vigilance and hold to account those responsible for the violence.
The attacks, which have left several politicians injured and their vehicles damaged, appear aimed at intimidating opponents in the region ahead of next year’s General Election.
Thursday morning, an elected Member of the Kisii County Assembly (MCA) for Ichuni Ward, Wyclife Siocha, commonly known as “Embande” was attacked and injured by a group suspected to be political goons.
The MCA, was confronted while supervising the repair of his motor car at a local garage within Kisii town’s Central Business District—CBD—by men armed with crude weapons, who beat and left unconscious with serious head injuries.
After attacking the MCA, the suspected goons fled.
The attack sent shockwaves across Kisii town with residents expressing fears that if the situation is not addressed by security agencies, peace and harmony among the people will be put in jeopardy.
About two weeks ago, Mr Siocha who previously was a close supporter of the Kisii governor Simba Arati governor announced that he had joined the “Wantam” team and declared his support to Jubilee's Presidential candidate Dr Fred Matiang’i.
With his head, eyes and mouth swollen, the MCA was admitted to HEMA hospital in Kisii town as relatives rushed against time to have him airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
Eye witnesses said the MCA was caught unawares when the group of goons surrounded and started beating him up with one of them accusing the lawmaker of betrayal.
When he announced his support for Dr Matiang’i, the MCA who was instrumental in the impeachment of former Deputy Governor, Dr Robert Monda Onsare, apologised for the role he played in the impeachment and alleged that he had been misled.
Following the incident, several MCAS accompanied by former Education Cabinet Secretary Mr Ezekiel Machogu stormed Kisii Central Police Station, and demanded for the immediate arrest of the suspected attacks, whom the alleged were sponsored by a senior political figure at the county.
"We are giving the police 12 hours to apprehend the suspects who are well known, failure to which wananchi will be forced to take action and bring the suspects to you the police," warned Mr Machogu.
Mr Machogu who is also a former District Commissioner and MP for Nyaribari Masaba where Mr Siocha comes from, accused security agencies in Kisii of allegedly being complacent in the ongoing political thuggery, targeting politicians opposed to Kisii County Governor, Simba Arati.
He alleged that the police had “normalised” the attacks, noting that no action has been taken in previous similar incidents, despite several promises by the police to arrest the suspects.
"We are tired. We will take no more of this. I am a victim of these similar attacks and todate, the suspects roam our county freely," an angry Mr Machogu told the police, who in turn promised to take action after demanding for a list of the suspected goons.
Victims of the attacks blame Mr Arati for the violence, a claim, which the governor has vehemently disputed.
“If you shout one-term and you get beaten up, you should not blame me. I have no goons. They claim I own goons... what they call goons are peaceful young men who maintain peace in the county,” Mr Arati said recently when responding to the goonism issue.
Kisii County Governor Simba Arati.
Mr Machogu who has aligned himself with Dr Matiang’i, had his convoy attacked early this year after leaving a function in Bomachoge Borabu Constituency.
Mr Machogu was attacked by suspected political thugs who damaged the car he was driving from a church function in Bomachoge.
“This is a primitive and savage act that seems to be gaining currency in Kisii. The first time something like this happened was at the funeral of Mr Chris Obure’s stepmother, when we came face to face with goons who stoned us and damaged a vehicle in my entourage. We were rescued by villagers with the help of police officers," said Mr Machogu.
Bloody confrontations were also witnessed recently when the United Alternative Government leaders had their meeting in Gusii disrupted by the apparently hired attackers.
The attackers who seemed well organised and armed with machetes, clubs and other crude weapons, raided Kisii and Keroka towns and attacked people, in a desperate attempt to stop the rallies.
Wananchi retaliated and disarmed them, beating a number of them who sustained injuries before the situation returned into normalcy.
A probox said to be used by some of the goons was burned at Keroka, Jubilee Party truck destroyed among other properties.
Later, hundreds of people stormed Gusii stadium and demanded to be addressed from there. Later in the evening, a fire broke out in one of the offices, burning a carpet and some of the furniture. But the opposition leaders claimed the fire was started by their opponents to create sympathy.
Last month, 31-year-old Obed Mogunda Somoni was attacked by goons.
Mr Mogunda was admitted to hospital for more than a week after undergoing specialised orthopedic services following a fractured hip from the attack.
According to medical records, Mogunda also suffered head, hand, chest and stomach injuries, and was vomiting blood.
Protesters light bonfires in Kisii town on June 25, 2025 during protests in memory of those who were killed in the 2024 Gen Z protests.
In yet another incident of political goonism, the tyres of vehicles belonging to three Kisii County MCAs were deflated by unknown assailants. The incident happened at a secured parking lot within the Kisii County Assembly premises while House business was in session.
The targeted ward representatives had been vocal in their political opposition to Governor Arati. The act of vandalism sparked significant local tension and raised concerns over political intimidation and security lapses at the assembly grounds.
Speaking on the political goonism in Kisii early this year, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Eliud Lagat, sent a strong warning to politicians recruiting and using young people as goons, stating that it is a growing concern among security chiefs ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The DIG spoke when he officially opened Igare Police Station, which was built through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) under the patronage of Bobasi Member of Parliament Innocent Obiri.
"The regional commanders and the provincial administration are all concerned about the issue of goons. Young people being used by individuals in society—whether politicians or anyone else who decides to recruit them and offer cheap money to advance criminal activities," said Mr Lagat.
He warned, "I want to emphasise that this is criminal in itself. We will not entertain it, regardless of who you are in society. Using young people to promote crimes, especially as we approach the political campaign period, must stop. Those who exploit our youth are not helping them."
The DIG stated that young people need to engage in positive economic activities instead of just receiving Sh200 or Sh500 to perpetrate criminal activities.
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