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Community leaders and human rights groups in Nakuru have raised alarm over the recruitment of goons and jobless youth to cause chaos during rallies and protests.

They said the trend was a disaster in waiting given the forthcoming general elections. They accused politicians and their cronies of holding night meetings with the youth and organising chaos.

Njoro deputy county commissioner Mokin Ptang'uny said the government will take action against politicians who pay youths to carry out criminal activities.

The administrator said politicians often buy cheap liquor for goons to block roads during protests, disrupt meetings, boo opponents at political rallies and harass perceived supporters of opponents.

He spoke in Njoro during a multi-sectoral forum on peace and security in the subcounty.

Ptang'uny said such incidents were becoming more rampant as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

The administrator warned that stern action would be taken against anyone found recruiting youth to engage in illegal activities.

“Such behaviour by some individuals to misuse our youth is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Ptang'uny said.

The administrator said hooliganism can easily trigger violence and undermine peaceful political engagement in Njoro, which is among major hotspots in the country.

"Recent incidents such as the latest fuel protests involved groups of youths blocking roads, setting up illegal tolling stations and engaging in confrontations that have heightened concerns over political manipulation," he said.

He said politicians and community leaders who recruited youths during the protests were known and would be dealt with in accordance to the law.

The forum organised by MidRift Human Rights Network in collaboration with Act Change and Transform (ACT) brought together people from different sectors, including local administrators, religious leaders, community policing committee members, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), university student leaders, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and human rights defenders.

The administrator urged Kenyans to live in harmony. He told young people not to allow themselves to be used as tools for violence.

Walter Mwania who is project manager for the Strengthening Community Resilience and Social Cohesion for Peaceful

Elections in Kenya said the country continues to experience recurring political and electoral tensions that undermine social cohesion.

public trust, democratic participation, and peaceful coexistence.

He said the electioneering period is often characterised by heightened political polarisation, misinformation, ethnic tensions, hate speech, human rights violations and strained relations between communities and state institutions.

Mwania said the project, which is being supported by the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, was working towards peaceful, inclusive and violence-free electoral processes by strengthening dialogue, collaboration, accountability and community-led peace-building initiatives.

"There is an urgent need to strengthen local peace infrastructures, enhance community resilience, promote trust in public institutions and improve coordination among key peace and security actors as the country draws closer to the general elections," he said.