Renowned legal scholar and orator Prof P.L.O. Lumumba has criticised what he described as the growing culture of political gangsterism in Kenya, warning that violence and intimidation have become entrenched in electoral politics.
Speaking about the state of the country’s politics, Lumumba said aspiring politicians were increasingly expected to have groups of supporters willing to intimidate or disrupt opponents before they could effectively campaign.
“Unfortunately, today our politics is so toxic that if you want to be an MCA or MP and you don’t have your goons, nobody is going to allow you to articulate your agenda,” he said.
Lumumba said the trend reflected a deterioration in the country’s political culture, arguing that politicians were increasingly relying on intimidation rather than presenting their policies and ideas to voters.
“Those are the levels to which we have degenerated,” he said.
He described the situation as “political gangsterism”, which he said was now driving politics in the country.
“It is political gangsterism that is running this country today,” Lumumba said.
Lumumba’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the use of organised groups to disrupt political meetings and intimidate rivals ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In recent months, incidents involving suspected political goons have been reported at rallies and other public gatherings in different parts of the country, prompting calls for security agencies to act against those behind the violence.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed security agencies to take preventive action against suspected political goons, saying police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations should act on intelligence before such groups reach political gatherings.
The concerns have also been raised by political leaders and religious organisations.
Politicians have been accused of using youth to intimidate, heckle and assault their rivals.
Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Sapit warned that the emergence of organised groups at public gatherings posed a threat to national stability.
