President William Ruto has ordered the National Police Service (NPS) to go after people funding, organizing or encouraging political violence, warning that hired gangs and private militias will not be tolerated ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Friday, August 28, during the passing-out parade of police recruits at Kiganjo, Ruto said politicians must stop using young people and gangs to disrupt meetings, threaten opponents and cause violence.
The President said security agencies should act against all individuals behind such acts, regardless of their political standing.
“In recent months, we have witnessed growing concern about hired gangs and young people recruited, transported, and paid to disrupt political meetings, intimidate opponents, and provoke violence.
“Let me be absolutely clear on this: politically sponsored violence has no place in our democracy. The National Police Service and all our security agencies should therefore take firm, lawful, and impartial action against anyone who finances, organizes, incites, or perpetrates political violence,” Ruto said.
Ruto also warned politicians against creating private militias or using intimidation to advance their political interests as the country heads towards the 2027 elections.
“No politician is entitled to a private militia. No candidate has the right to intimidate citizens. No political objective can justify violence,” he stated.
President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the police recruits’ passing-out parade at Kiganjo, Nyeri County on August 28, 2026.
PHOTO/PCS
The President urged political leaders to seek support through their policies and ideas instead of relying on violence, intimidation or ethnic mobilisation.
“Political competition must be a contest of ideas, policies, and leadership, not a contest of hired gangs, intimidation, and ethnic mobilization. The people must decide, freely and peacefully, who will lead them,” Ruto added.
His remarks come weeks after violence broke out during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay County, where people were injured and several vehicles and other property damaged.
The NPS said one police officer was killed while five others sustained injuries during the unrest.
"Regrettably, several criminal incidents were recorded, including an attack on journalists performing their lawful duties, damage to five police vehicles deployed for public order maintenance, and damage to several civilian motor vehicles.
“In addition, one police vehicle lost control, resulting in the death of its driver and injuries to five other officers," NPS stated.
Police subsequently arrested 37 suspects in connection with the Homa Bay violence and recovered several crude weapons.
"A total of 37 suspected gang members have been arrested and were found in possession of various crude weapons, including machetes, ropes, metal rods, knives, rungus, batons and torches,” NPS said.