Politicians and the Judiciary have been blamed for the rising number of goons and gangs that terrorise innocent Kenyans and cause mayhem in public places, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.
Mr Murkomen said intelligence report in their possession indicates that politicians including sitting Members of Parliament own gangs and goons that they are using to cause trouble in various parts of the country.
Speaking during a meeting with MPs during the speakers’ Kamukunji, Mr Murkomen told MPs that the intelligence report is already with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which is tightening evidence to be presented in court.
“If I were to speak freely before you here, I would mention names of people who have gangs, but because these are intelligence reports that we have, I would rather allow the DCI to continue with investigations and get proper evidence that can stand the test of prosecution before the courts of law,” Mr Murkomen told MPs
“If we come for you because of these gangs, don’t think that we are doing it because of political reasons; we are just doing it for security reasons,” added the interior CS.
Mr Murkomen said there is a craze by the politicians to own gangs, which he said are well-financed by the lawmakers.
The National Assembly in a past session.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“No politician should come to us thinking they are coming with clean hands; I see some of them going to issue press statements because his gangs have been overpowered by the gangs of their opponents. Because you lost the battle that day, you call a press conference, then you accuse the government, police and become tribal,” Mr Murkomen said.
“Every time we deal with the gangs, those politicians don’t come out to campaign because they cannot do it without those goons,” he added.
Mr Murkomen blamed the elected leaders for being the weakest link in the fight against the goons, saying every time they are arrested, they bail them out.
The CS also told the lawmakers they are also to be blamed for the bold nature of how the gangs operate because, upon their arrests, the political class demands the transfer of police officers who arrested them.
“This issue of criminal gangs has become a difficult area for the police officers because the owners of the gangs sit in this House, they sit in high offices, they are in Senate, National Assembly, some of them are in high political party offices and the problem is that every time these people are arrested, the political leaders go and intimidate police officers in the locality,” Mr Murkomen said.
“They also visit the office of the Inspector General and demand that they be transferred. When you go down to find out why they demand transfer of a police officer, it is because that police officer is not playing to their tune when dealing with gangs and goons,” he added.
Residents scamper for safety after tear gas canisters were lobbed at Witima ACK Church in Nyeri County during a Sunday service that was attended by Rigathi Gachagua on January 25, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
“I have told the Inspector General that he has protection of my office, that no one should intimidate a police officer as they must do their job independently and impartially,”
On the goons that invaded Parliament on June 25, 2024 who were captured on camera destroying properties, Mr Murkomen also disclosed that some MPs filed statements opposing the charging of the suspects.
“I expected MPs would unanimously support the process of enforcing and arresting these criminals and gang,s including their financiers but we found statements from a section of political leaders in this House that are abetting and aiding people who are invading public institutions,” Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Murkomen warned MPs that one day, the goons will come for them and they will have no escape route.
“Some gangs are yours while others are being recruited by your political opponents and if the police officers were to look at the other side and allow these gangs to operate, no MP, whether you are in opposition or in government, will be able to function,” Mr Murkomen said
“Remember you are of a particular kind of people who are considered to have some resources, and the way these gangs are going to unite and come for you, they will not care which side of the political divide you are in,” he added.
On the Judiciary, Mr Murkomen said the institution has become a soft ground where suspects rush to get anticipatory bail to stop their arrests, a move he says hampers the fight against rising criminal gangs.
“You cannot give someone anticipatory bail that they cannot be charged, because if the evidence exists, that person should be charged. Let the courts weigh evidence and determine whether or not that evidence meets the threshold to convict the person but you cannot deny the national criminal and enforcement system an opportunity to present that person in court,” Mr Murkomen said.
“The reason why these issues of gangs and goons persist is because they have their collaborators in the judiciary, and some magistrates are already on standby to release people who have burnt courts, parliament, police stations and stolen guns,” he added.
