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Ruto: Lenient courts embolden goons
President William Ruto.
President William Ruto has criticised the Judiciary over what he termed as lenient handling of cases involving goons accused of disrupting political rallies.
The President said courts were releasing suspects on low bond terms, allowing them to return to the streets and continue terrorising Kenyans.
“Young people arrested for criminality are taken to court, then they are given a bond of Sh200 and released because they are our children. They then go back to political rallies and that is how we end up with goons,” President Ruto said.
The President said Kenya must have an honest conversation about the growing problem of goons as political temperatures rise ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Criminality, the rule of law and the security of our nation cannot be compromised. There cannot be any defence for criminality and for breaking the law,” he said.
President Ruto praised his administration for thwarting what he described as attempts to plunge the country into lawlessness during the recent planned Gen Z and Sabasaba demonstrations, insisting his government would not tolerate a return to widespread disorder.
He directed security agencies to remain vigilant and crack down on goons and other forms of criminality, while ensuring they operate within the law.
“That is going to be the future. It’s now clear that every sector, including business, religious and political leaders, have all agreed that lawlessness, goons and other criminals must be stopped. Now that we have consensus, our security agencies must do their job within the law and stop criminality. That’s how we will secure Kenya’s future,” he said.
The President's remarks come amid growing concern over the apparent boldness with which some goons have been operating, often in the presence of police officers.
The latest incident was during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in Nyandarua County, where groups of suspected goons were seen terrorising voters in what critics alleged was an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since said investigative agencies are probing the Ol Kalou violence, which left one person dead and several others injured.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and other opposition leaders have repeatedly condemned the increasing use of goons to disrupt political activities.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has also urged the government to urgently address the growing menace and restore law and order.
He spoke at State House on Tuesday where he received a report on strategic guidelines for Kenya's long-term national transformation beyond Vision 2030.
The report lays the foundation for the successor of Vision 2030, the blueprint which has guided national planning and economic policy since it came into effect in 2008.
It was prepared by a team of economic scholars led by Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, professors Hiroyuki Hino, Michael Chege, Karuti Kanyinga and Peter Wanyande.
The President said he was impressed with the many issues the report raises on the strategic direction the country has already begun pursuing, including the establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
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