Catholic bishops raises alarm over rising political violence and goons culture

KCCB Chairman Archbishop Maurice Muhatia has urged Kenyan youth to reject leaders who exploit them to perpetrate violence, saying such politicians do not have the interests of either the youth or the country at heart.

The bishops stated that the recent trend poses a serious threat to peace, democracy and national stability.

They spoke during the installation of Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe as the second Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wote in Makueni County.

Senior members of the Catholic clergy had gathered in Wote for the installation ceremony when they also turned their attention to the country's growing security concerns.

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Archbishop Maurice Muhatia expressed concern over what he described as the growing culture of political goons.

"Do not accept to be used, misused or abused by some of our unscrupulous leaders who do not mean well for you or for the country that we all love so much," Archbishop Muhatia said.

The archbishop warned that those engaging in politically motivated violence were putting both themselves and the wider society at risk, while undermining the country's democratic values.

His remarks come against the backdrop of a recent surge in incidents involving unidentified armed men accused of disrupting by-elections, peaceful demonstrations and other public gatherings.

The incidents have raised alarm among Kenyans, with questions emerging over the apparent lack of decisive action by the agencies mandated to maintain law and order.

The bishops warned that if left unchecked, the growing use of politically sponsored goons could undermine constitutional institutions, weaken public confidence in democratic processes and threaten the country's stability.

The concerns have also been amplified by events witnessed during the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where reports of armed groups and politically motivated violence cast a shadow over the electoral process.