CJ Koome, DCI Amin trade blame over rising political goonism ahead of 2027 polls

The Judiciary and police are now trading blame over how to contain the menace, with Chief Justice Martha Koome demanding action against financiers while the police fault courts for releasing suspects on minimal bond terms.

Speaking during a National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) event, CJ Koome faulted the police for failing to pursue individuals financing and sustaining criminal gangs, insisting that efforts to dismantle the networks must extend beyond the young people recruited into the groups.

"Listening to the report by the National Police Service, what I know about organised crime is a crime against humanity; we need to map these areas and as police you need to arrest financiers...the goons are our children and they are being sustained by financiers,” said Koome.

However, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohammed Amin, who represented Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, shifted the blame to the Judiciary, accusing courts of undermining efforts to contain criminal gangs by releasing suspects on minimal bond terms.

Amin called for expedited prosecution of gang-related offences, warning that suspects released back into society could resume their criminal activities.

"We are calling upon the Judiciary to expedite the prosecution and trial of all gang related offences, we have taken note that frequent release of suspects on minimal bond undermines deterrence and allows repeat offenders to return to the streets to the battle field to continue perpetuating their activities," he said.

A report by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) painted a worrying picture of the spread of organised criminal gangs across the country, with the number of identified gangs rising from 89 to 109.

The sharp increase in criminal gangs was recorded in Western Kenya and the Rift Valley, raising concerns over the potential impact on security as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.

"We ask as the Council of Governors (CoG) that we restore prosecutorial powers with assistance from the Judiciary,” CoG Chairperson Muthomi Njuki said.

NCAJ Director General Dr. Moses Maranga added: "Crime has gone up by 157%; initially it was coalescing between 89, 95, 104%; there was also a slight increase in serious crimes."

"Despite all that we are doing, we are still seeing abductions…some young lawyers have also been abducted,” Law Society of Kenya (LSK) member Tom K'opere said.

To tame the trend, the police pledged to pursue individuals suspected of financing and facilitating criminal activities, including those allegedly exploiting young people during the political season.