Rights groups warn that Kenyan politicians are increasingly employing hired gangs to intimidate opponents and disrupt protests across the country.
The trend signals a deteriorating security environment as the nation approaches the 2027 elections. The use of these groups to silence dissent and target religious institutions threatens the stability of public discourse and the safety of civilians.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission and other advocacy groups, these hired thugs, known locally as “goons,” are being used to protect the interests of political figures [1, 2]. Reports indicate that members of President William Ruto's administration are among those linked to the deployment of these gangs [1, 2].
The violence has extended to religious spaces in Nairobi. Incidents were reported in June 2026 involving attacks on churches, including those occurring on the grounds of All Saints Cathedral [1, 3]. Clergy members said they are concerned over the growing trend of violence targeting houses of worship during a recent Friday morning [1].
Financial barriers to organizing such violence are low. The cost to hire an armed thug is reported to be as low as four dollars per day [4]. This affordability allows political actors to rapidly mobilize large numbers of attackers to disrupt public gatherings or target specific critics.
Rights organizations said the culture of goon violence is fueled by intense political competition. These gangs are utilized not only to silence political rivals, but also to disrupt legitimate protests and intimidate the general population into submission [2, 3].
“Hired thugs, known locally as “goons,” are being used to protect the interests of political figures.”
The normalization of hired violence in Kenya suggests a shift toward extrajudicial intimidation as a primary tool for political survival. By targeting not only political rivals but also the church—a traditionally influential moral authority in Kenyan society—political actors are attempting to dismantle the infrastructure of public dissent before the 2027 election cycle begins.
