IG Kanja warns of surge in organised goonism, vows crackdown on political violence

IG Douglas Kanja/SCREENGRAB

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has warned of what he termed a growing wave of organised goonism and escalating attacks targeting police officers and installations, vowing a decisive crackdown on perpetrators and their networks.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday evening, Kanja said the National Police Service (NPS) had recorded a 5 per cent reduction in the national crime rate in 2025 compared to 2024, but cautioned that emerging security threats posed a serious risk to public order and national stability.

“Our relentless dedication to national security is demonstrated by a 5% reduction in the national crime rate in the year 2025 compared to 2024,” Kanja said, adding that police operations against terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, burglary and illicit drugs had registered notable progress.

Despite the gains, the police chief expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing pattern of coordinated and escalating lawlessness, including attacks on police stations, officers, and critical infrastructure in several counties.

He warned that such incidents amounted to a direct assault on national security and public safety, insisting that they would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“These incidents are not merely unlawful. They represent a grave and direct assault on national security, public safety and community stability,” he said.

Kanja stressed that police stations remain critical institutions in maintaining law and order, noting that any attack on them undermines the broader security architecture.

“Police stations are not just buildings. They are the bedrock of public safety, emergency response and the first line of defence,” he said.

“To attack a police station is to attack the very security of the public it serves.”

The Inspector General further linked the rise in violence to what he described as politically instigated criminal activity, warning leaders across the political divide against allegedly mobilising gangs for unlawful activities.

He cautioned that the use of goons and criminal networks to advance political interests would attract the full force of the law, regardless of the status or position of those involved.

“We further reiterate that the alarming surge in political violence and thuggery instigated by leaders across the political divide, through use of goons and criminal gangs, constitutes a direct threat to national security and will not be tolerated,” he said.

Kanja added that the National Police Service had activated comprehensive operational strategies, in collaboration with other security agencies and the public, aimed at identifying, apprehending and prosecuting those behind the attacks.

He said the measures include intensified security operations designed to ensure swift arrest and prosecution of offenders, with the aim of deterring further incidents.

“No effort will be spared to hold perpetrators and their enablers accountable, regardless of their status or position in society,” he said.

At the same time, Kanja urged the public to cooperate with security agencies, avoid unlawful confrontations, and report criminal activity to the nearest police station or through established channels.

He also called for respect towards lawful instructions issued by police officers during operations and public gatherings, warning against actions that could escalate into violence.

The police chief further directed all officers to discharge their duties within the law, assuring the public of their safety.