President Ruto directs security agencies to tame goonism

Speaking in State House, Nairobi, while receiving a report on 'Developing a New National Vision: Journey to a First World Economy', President Ruto stated that the rise of violent youthful groups has become a threat to national security and will cripple the nation's growth.

He said that the groups, now being used in political rallies to cause havoc, are only exploiting the Kenyan youth to erode order and peace in the nation.

"Some are arrested for criminality, taken to court, they are given a bond of Ksh.200. They leave there [and] because they're our children, they now go to political rallies, and then we have goons. I don't know whether we want to say again, these are our children, the goons," he said.

"We really need to have a candid conversation about criminality, the rule of law and security of our nation. It cannot be the case. There cannot be any defense for criminality [and] for breaking the law."

He therefore ordered the security forces to move expeditiously towards taming the rise of criminal groups, noting that the ambitious vision of creating a better future for Kenya can only be achieved after the crisis is nipped in the bud.

"Now that we have a consensus, our security agencies must do their job within the law, and they must stop criminality. That is how we are going to secure Kenya's future even as we discuss this future of our nation in the context of what we are saying," he said.

President Ruto's sentiments come after goons, believed to be politically sponsored, have disrupted several political events across the country, creating a threat to security as the nation gears up for the 2027 General Election.

Some have been linked to the government, as many have testified to having received payments from politicians to cause mayhem.

In June 2027, a group of armed men invaded All Saints' Cathedral to disrupt a budget review meeting.

One of the invaders revealed to Citizen TV that they were allegedly financed by a Nairobi Member of Parliament and executed the invasion with the support of plainclothes police officers. 

The man narrated how he and others were recruited under the impression they would disrupt a political meeting associated with opposition figure Rigathi Gachagua, but the target changed upon arriving in the CBD.  

He narrated how they were promised Ksh.2,000 per person, with each man instructed to source a motorcycle and ride in pairs. 

Another similar instance was witnessed in June 2025, during protests demanding justice over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang ’, who was allegedly killed in police custody.

Police officers worked with goons to fight off protesters as some of the rowdy groups were chanting "Heshimu President, achana na Ruto" (respect the president, leave Ruto alone), a stark justification of the team working in favour of the State.

A video captured by Citizen Digital showed the rowdy team passing outside City Hall in Nairobi, making victory chants to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

"Sakaja tumelinda jiji...(Sakaja, we have protected the city)," they said.

Some of the youths told Citizen TV, while nursing head injuries, others with broken limbs, that they were short-changed and never received the payments they were promised for sabotaging the protests.

The government, through the Ministry of Interior, has attempted to crack down on crime as Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has spearheaded the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit (NMPU), a highly specialised division under the National Police Service designed to curb urban crime, protect businesses, and improve emergency response times.

The contingent has not yet been deployed.