Public Policy Analyst Arnold Maliba has warned that Kenya’s goonism problem is no longer limited to street gangs and political violence, saying the use of intimidation, informal authority and coercion is increasingly taking root in institutions and networks that are meant to serve the public.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation on Tuesday, Maliba said the term goonism should not only be used to describe groups of young people involved in violence. He said such groups can grow into organised networks that take on roles normally expected of the government, especially in areas where residents feel neglected by formal institutions.
“Goonism morphs into organized groupings, and then now you have what you call organized gangs,” Maliba said.
He explained that some of these groups can build influence by providing services such as security, water, electricity, employment and financial support through informal or illegal systems.
According to Maliba, this creates a dangerous situation where criminal groups can begin to operate like parallel governments, particularly in communities where state institutions are unable or unwilling to meet the needs of residents.
He also raised concerns about the use of unofficial actors in security operations, saying reliance on such networks can give them room to grow and establish themselves within communities.
His comments come against the backdrop of growing concern over organised criminal groups in the country. The National Police Service reported that 330 suspected members of organised criminal gangs were arrested and arraigned in 2024, compared with 929 recorded in 2023.
The police listed groups such as Panga Boys, Confirm, Kata Hema, Gaza, Usiku Sacco, Mutu Tatu Squad and Team Shamba among the gangs considered security threats.
The 2025 State of National Security report also identified unemployment, substance abuse, youthful truancy and political patronage among factors linked to the spread of criminal gangs.
The report warned that political competition had contributed to the recruitment of vulnerable young people into criminal gangs and “amorphous goons” who are used to confront political opponents.
It recorded 602 criminal-gang cases between September 2024 and August 2025, compared with 721 cases during the previous comparable period.
Maliba, however, said focusing only on gangs in informal settlements risks missing the wider problem.
“Kenya does not have a goon problem. What we have is a government of goons, from the top to the very bottom,” he said.
He accused political and administrative leaders of using informal power and coercion to influence how governance is carried out.
Maliba further argued that goonism is not limited to people without formal education or those operating on the streets. He said the same form of behaviour can be found among educated professionals working in political institutions, government offices and corporate boardrooms.
His remarks come at a time when political violence is again drawing attention ahead of the 2027 General Election.
ACLED recorded more than 990 political violence events in Kenya in 2022, with almost 700 reported fatalities.
The organisation also reported that Kenya recorded 19 mob attacks against local officials in 2025, 12 of which were carried out by known or suspected supporters of rival political forces.
ACLED has described political goons as groups that are often recruited from gangs, local labour networks or vigilante structures and used to intimidate political opponents.
The National Crime Research Centre has also previously identified 46 organised criminal gangs in Kenya. Its findings showed that the groups were involved in activities including extortion, violence, illegal levies, intimidation and evictions.
The centre also found that some gangs were hired by businessmen or politicians to protect interests or intimidate their opponents.
Maliba called for a broader understanding of goonism, saying it should be treated not only as a security issue but also as a governance problem involving political networks, institutions and the use of coercive power.
He warned that failing to separate lawful authority from informal coercion could weaken public confidence in institutions and create space for powerful networks to operate alongside, or even within, formal government structures.