Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. /HANDOUTMembers of Parliament have summoned Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to appear before the House on Tuesday, August 25, to respond to concerns raised by MPs over reported political violence and goonism across the country.
The summons followed a request for a statement by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari on Thursday through the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security over what she described as a rise in violence during political rallies.
"In recent weeks, the country has witnessed a worrying escalation of violence, disruption of political rallies and destruction of property during political rallies, with recent incidents reported in Homa Bay, Nyandarua and Nakuru counties," she said.
Wangari said the reported loss of lives, attacks on civilians, police officers and journalists, use of inflammatory remarks and destruction of property were deeply concerning, saying they undermined Kenyans' right to exercise their democratic freedoms.
"It also heightens political intolerance and poses a serious threat to national peace, cohesion and unity," Wangari said, adding that incidents initially dismissed as isolated had escalated into full-blown acts of violence involving the use of crude weapons.
"It is regrettable that despite the recurrence of these incidents, decisive action has yet to be taken to bring the perpetrators to account."
Wangari said investigative agencies were yet to provide a comprehensive report on the progress and extent of investigations into the reported violence, which she warned also risked eroding investor confidence.
She wants Murkomen to apprise the House of the total number of political violence incidents reported across the country in the past 12 months, the status of investigations, the identities of perpetrators and action taken to prevent further escalation.
She also wants the CS to provide the total number of fatalities and injuries reported as a result of political violence over the past year, as well as measures being taken to curb political intolerance and prevent politically instigated violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo said there were reports that women were raped and assaulted when violence erupted during Linda Mwananchi's tour of Homa Bay County last Sunday.
"Mr Speaker, we are told that in Homa Bay the deaths are under-reported and not less than 12 people died. I hope that Hon Martha or the committee could add to that statement exactly how many women were raped. I personally met two women; one is from Kwale, she was cut on the head," she said.
Odhiambo also raised concern that the reported violence had gone beyond political rallies, alleging that criminal elements had targeted places of worship after two Seventh-day Adventist churches were vandalised in Homa Bay.
"This is like our Ramadhan; it's a holy month that all SDAs know we have our camp meetings. It's a month of prayer and therefore coming into our holy places in such a month is actually a disgrace."
MPs called for the arrest of political leaders who have been on record inciting political intolerance and demanded collective accountability from leaders across the political divide.
Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said no region was safe from what she described as political goonism if the reported escalating criminal culture, including people openly carrying machetes, was not nipped in the bud.
"Right now we can cheer because it is somewhere else; it will come to bite us. Each one of us as leaders, it will come to bite us. It almost bit us here in 2024. Violence should be condemned in whichever form."
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said what happened in Homa Bay went beyond political violence.
"It was premeditated terrorism," he said.
"We want an expedited answer as soon as practically possible because as we go for recess, we are going to have many of these rallies and the perpetrators who are planning for murders must be condemned."
"What we witnessed last Sunday was terrible, and we don't want to wish it on any part of the country," Banissa MP Hassan Maalim said.
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security Gabriel Tongoyo said the committee was alive to the sensitivity of the matter and would have Murkomen appear before the House to respond to the concerns.
"Given the urgency and the importance of this, which is actually a national security concern, we are going to prioritise it to be addressed by the minister on Tuesday."
