Over the last two months, five incidents in which heavily armed goons interrupted political meetings in Meru have been reported, with the aftermath being a trail of destruction and injuries.
The worrying trend has caught the attention of administrators, the police, religious leaders, politicians and residents.
The goons culture surfaced between 2023 and 2024 when rival political camps clashed before, during and after impeachment of former governor Kawira Mwangaza. Eventually, she was impeached in October 2024, and her deputy Isaac Mutuma took over as governor in March 2025.
Since then, politicians have perfected the vice of hiring goons to cheer their masters and shout down opponents. Analysts say that these have now mutated into armed gangs.
During political meetings, goons are transported, deployed and freely walk around armed with machettes and batons, ready for war.
The goons have also been used to waylay and attack critics as well as journalists, with instructions to silence them.
On September 5, several journalists covering an event attended by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku at Njia Boys High School in Tigania West were attacked by goons and robbed of a camera and laptop.
"One of the attackers expressly informed us that they were under instructions from a local politician to take away equipment. Suddenly, we were surrounded and some of us beaten up as we fought to defend ourselves," Igembe Press Club chairperson Dorcas Ntoitha said.
Despite reporting the incident to Kangeta Police Station and naming the suspects, no arrest has been made, close to two months later.
"The suspects are operating with impunity because they have even tried to contact us requesting to return the stolen equipment for a fee. The police are asking us to help them make arrests," a journalist said.
A few weeks later, on September 26, separate political meetings by Peter Munya and Mithika Linturi at Mikinduri and Kibuline, respectively, were disrupted by armed goons.
In both incidents, vehicles were damaged, and several people were injured.
However, it is Ms Mwangaza who has borne the brunt of the violence, with cases of goon attacks intensifying in her meetings.
On October 18, Ms Mwangaza’s supporters clashed with rivals at Gituine in Igembe Central, leading to the loss of her husband’s guitar and their sound system.
Groups armed with machetes, batons and stones clashed for hours before the former Meru governor could address the rally.
"Hundreds of goons were ferried in trucks and deployed to our meeting venue armed with machetes and batons. The police allowed the goons to operate freely because they were sent by pro-government politicians," Ms Mwangaza claimed.
Igembe Central MP Dan Kiili denied Ms Mwangaza’s claims that his staff were involved in mobilising the goons.
Police officers barricade the entrance to Githongo Stadium as supporters of former Governor Kawira Mwangaza clash with those of Governor Isaac Mutuma during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2026.
Photo credit: David Muchui | Nation Media Group
Two days later, on Mashujaa Day, Ms Mwangaza’s vehicles were vandalised as armed youths battled at Githongo market in Imenti Central, where the county celebrations were ongoing.
While Ms Mwangaza accused Governor Isaac Mutuma of organising the attack, the county boss blamed her for ferrying armed goons.
The Meru Mashujaa Day chaos has sparked reactions from across the political divide, with leaders calling an end to the culture of violence.
Methodist Church in Kenya Presiding Bishop John Maromba condemned rising cases of political violence urging politicians to promote peace.
"Politicians are now ferrying armed goons who use all manner of crude weapons against rivals. As a church, we condemn such acts and distance ourselves from those who use violence," Bishop Maromba said.
"For the four times I have vied for elective seats, I have not witnessed the violence we see in Meru today. We have a worrying trend where political meetings have turned into battlegrounds. It is politicians who are hiring goons and using them to cause chaos," he said, and urged leaders to respect the law.
Parry of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya called on voters to shun politicians who use violence to intimidate rivals.
"It is worrying that goons are increasingly being used to attack political meetings. It is much more concerning that even the government is using goons to disrupt opposition rallies. Violence begets violence," Mr Munya said.
Meru County Criminal Investigations Officer Abednego Kavoo acknowledged that goonism was increasingly rearing its ugly head in political meetings.
However, Mr Kavoo said no arrests have been made in all recent or past violent attacks, though investigations were ongoing.
When detectives arrested more than 20 suspected goons who disrupted a political meeting in Mikinduri late last month, they were all released unconditionally following intervention by politicians.
"Meru has been known to be very peaceful, but goonism is brewing by the day. Investigations show that the goons are sent by competitors and we have clear instructions to deal with them firmly. We will deal with all whether they are pro-government or in support of the opposition. I urge the public to share information to aid in the arrest of suspects," Mr Kavoo said.
He called on politicians to involve the police while planning meetings for proper security arrangements.
The deputy president said the police must deal ruthlessly with perpetrators and goons irrespective of their political affiliations.
"No one should be attacked or denied their right to hold meetings. Mwangaza, who is in opposition, should also be allowed to hold her meetings without interruption."
"I have talked to the regional Commissioner and instructed that those who attacked Kawira Mwangaza be arrested. It doesn't matter whether the suspects are pro-government or not," Prof Kindiki said.
The DP expressed concern that Meru County was emerging as a violence hotspot following other recent attacks on political meetings.
"Any politician funding or supporting violence and destruction of property must be arrested whether in government or in the opposition," The DP maintained.
According to political commentator Prof Gitile Naituli, the pattern of violence is likely to normalise intimidation.
"One disrupted meeting invites retaliation at the next. Soon, residents will stay away from political meetings. Candidates will have to travel with increasingly aggressive entourages. That is how a contest of ideas turns into competition over who can assemble the largest gang," Prof Naituli warns.
He warned that if the police do not act fairly and decisively against perpetrators of violence, goonism may turn into a norm.
