Murkomen Slams Gachagua’s Plan For Civilian Security at Rallies, Warns Against Recruitment of Goons
The CS said no Kenyan should carry clubs, crude weapons or any other objects in the name of protecting political leaders, businesses or polling stations.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has strongly dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call for civilians to protect political meetings, businesses and votes, insisting that maintaining security is the constitutional mandate of the National Police Service and not ordinary citizens.
Speaking on Friday during a thanksgiving ceremony at St. Stephen’s Secondary School in Kagaari, Embu County, Murkomen warned politicians against mobilizing or recruiting young people to provide security at political gatherings, saying the government will not tolerate the use of goons or armed civilians anywhere in the country.
“We want politics to be conducted peacefully. Let meetings be like this one where people speak, others listen, we understand each other and move on,” Murkomen said.
The CS said no Kenyan should carry clubs, crude weapons or any other objects in the name of protecting political leaders, businesses or polling stations.
“When we engage in politics, let us stop using goons. There is no need for politicians to recruit young people for violence. I have heard some leaders calling on the youth from certain regions to come out and protect meetings. That is unacceptable,” he added.
Murkomen emphasized that security remains the responsibility of trained police officers, noting that every part of the country deserves equal protection regardless of political affiliation or geographical location.
“There is no ordinary Kenyan who should carry a club or crude weapons to protect any political meeting. Whether I am in Embu, Nairobi, Mombasa or any other part of Kenya, we will not allow anyone to say they are protecting politicians or polling stations,” he said.
He praised Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the National Police Service for maintaining order during recent political meetings across the country, saying calm has returned to political gatherings in the last two weeks.
“I congratulate the National Police Service because over the last two weeks, political meetings have taken place without goons disrupting them. We will continue in the same direction,” Murkomen stated.
The Interior CS further issued a stern warning that politicians found recruiting young people to engage in violence will face legal action alongside those who accept to be recruited.
“We will come for anyone recruiting youths for violence, and we will also deal with those who accept to be recruited to harass other Kenyans,” he warned.
Murkomen’s remarks come just days after Gachagua unveiled what he described as the Democracy for the Citizens Party’s strategy for protecting votes ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a party meeting in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, Gachagua urged party leaders to begin preparing volunteers to guard polling stations well before the elections, proposing the deployment of hundreds of young people depending on the size of each polling centre. He also encouraged supporters to remain at polling stations after voting until counting is completed.
Murkomen however maintained that the responsibility of providing security during political meetings and elections rests solely with state security agencies, adding that the government will ensure every Kenyan enjoys adequate protection.
“We want women and other wananchi to attend political meetings peacefully, not meetings where stones are flying and people have to dodge violence. Every part of Kenya will receive equal security because no region belongs to goons,” he concluded.
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