A new report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crimes, has uncovered the link between politicians and organized criminal gangs and highlighted the roles that the gangs operating in Nairobi County play on behalf of these political figures.
The report noted that key politicians push their political interests through unconventional means in order to stamp their dominance in Nairobi.
According to the report, politicians have deployed these criminal gangs to enforce security measures during major political rallies.
Rival counterparts and their supporters are roughed up and dispersed by the said gangs. The report noted that the gangs would also use ethnic divisive tactics to chase away the rival supporters.
"Gangs can also disrupt a candidate’s ability to canvass or hold an event by restricting access to areas they control," read part of the report.
Another common trend that the report noted was the rent-a-crowd tactic used by politicians when holding political campaign rallies.
The hired crowd in these rallies cheer their patron while shouting down the opposition, in line with a prepared script.
The report also highlighted the illegal operations carried out by the criminal gangs which are made possible due to the insurance policy influenced by the politicians.
Land grabbing, privatising waste collection, getting involved in municipal activities are among the operations carried out by the gangs. The politicians, in return fund the gang-related activities or protect them against law enforcement.
"Politicians strike up mutually beneficial arrangements with gangs to use violence to gain or keep control of resources illegitimately,” read part of the report.
In the case of previous elections, the report also alluded that the gangs could have been hired to either manipulate or challenge election results.
The report also pointed out that a section of the political class would resort to extent measures to silence critical voices in the society who questioned or opposed their tactics.
Key witnesses, rival politicians and journalists are seen as a threat and measures can be enforced to either coerce them into complying with the politicians' demands or the worst case scenario would lead to the demise of the victims.
