Religious leaders condemn rise of political goonism, call for tolerance

Religious leaders from Christian and Muslim communities have raised alarm over what they describe as a troubling rise in political intolerance and hooliganism, warning that the trend could push the country into instability.

Speaking on Sunday, the clerics expressed concern over the resurgence of political goonism witnessed in recent days, cautioning that the escalating unrest, if left unchecked, risks plunging the nation into chaos or even civil conflict.

They have now urged politicians to refrain from exploiting young people to perpetrate violence, citing recent political rallies marked by teargas and gunshots as witnessed in Kikuyu constituency on Saturday.

”As a church we are gravely concerned in the mushrooming culture of goonism,” said All Saints Provost Evans Omollo.

“Whatever happened in Kikuyu is unfortunate…is a very dangerous precedents…someone needs to take responsibility,” added Rangenyo Parish Priest Bernard Nyangeri.

They further noted that such actions are fueling a culture of lawlessness and steadily eroding the moral fabric of society.
“A leader who has been elected has been attacked by unknown people. They did not just wake up and chose to attack him, it is something that was planned,” said Imam Salim.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the culture of hooliganism,” added Bishop David Thagana.

The use of organised groups of youth to instigate violence during political engagements have become a raising a concern in the country.
Meanwhile,Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’waH condemend the violence witnessed in his constituency.

The National Assembly Majority Leader says the violence witnessed is organized and deliberate, arguing that it is not random chaos claiming they bear hallmarks of the same kind of attacks during protests 2 years ago and last year June.

Ichung’waH claims that the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua spent the last week setting the stage for the violence and has been working hard to try to shift the blame.

“To those Gachagua is using to orchestrate this violence under the illusion of political protection. You have crossed a dangerous line. You are not just fighting political battles—you are endangering lives and undermining our democracy. And you are nothing but criminals who should and must be dealt with as criminals,” Ichung’wah said in a statement.

He now wants the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to commence investigations on all those involved in the chaos in Kikuyu.