Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sent out a warning to politicians over the alleged hiring of goons to disrupt campaigns ahead of the upcoming by-elections, threatening to apprehend everyone involved.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 17, Murkomen flagged the rising cases of hiring of goons to disrupt political gatherings and warned that the government would crack down on the leaders responsible.
The CS noted that the government would, for the next month, crack down on the goons and bring their leaders to book before the courts of law.
“Within the next month, we need to see most of these gang leaders, gangs, and goons facing the full force of the law,” Murkomen noted.
“And for anyone who is maintaining and paying young people to commit criminal offences and cause disturbances and assaults, we are not just coming for the gang leaders and gangs, we are also coming for you,” he added.
Murkomen claimed that groups of goons and those of organised crime were highly prevalent in the Western region, adding that a single Member of County Assembly (MCA) could be the boss of up to 100 goons.
The CS added that Members of Parliament accounted for 200, 300, or even 500 goons, depending on their capacity. Senior county leaders were accused of handling groups of 1000 to 2000 goons.
As per Murkomen, the business of hiring goons had become very lucrative and prevalent, prompting government action.
Murkomen’s message comes ahead of the November 27 nationwide by-elections set to be overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with politicians already on the campaign trail.
Political parties that intended to participate in the by-elections were instructed to submit the names and specimen signatures of the authorised people on or before Wednesday, September 17.
Further, the electoral commission set Wednesday, October 8 and 9, as the days for the nomination or registration of political parties and independent candidates for the by-elections.
The by-elections are set to see contestants seeking elective positions in over 20 political seats spanning across the ward, constituency, and senatorial levels.
Vacant Member of County Assembly (MCA) seats in the following wards: Angata Nanyokie (Samburu), Chemundu (Nandi), Chewani (Tana River), Fafi (Garissa), and Kariobangi North Ward (Nairobi City).
Other ward seats available are Kisa East Ward (Kakamega County), Metkei (Elgeyo Marakwet), Mumbuni North (Machakos), Purko Ward (Kajiado County), and Tembelio (Uasin Gishu).
The second batch includes a vacant Senatorial position in Baringo and Member of Parliament seats in Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja Constituencies.
