NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 13 – The government is facing mounting pressure over what critics describe as a failure to decisively crack down on organized political violence, after armed groups disrupted political activities in Kisumu and Nyahururu over the weekend, deepening concerns that Kenya could be sliding toward a dangerous election-era culture of impunity.

📻 Breaking It Down

The incidents, which saw young men openly carrying bows, arrows, clubs and other crude weapons, have reignited debate over the state’s ability, or willingness, to curb political goonism despite repeated assurances from security agencies that perpetrators will face the law.

Amateur videos circulating online on Sunday showed armed youth marching through parts of Kisumu before violent confrontations erupted during a church service attended by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

The clashes left one person dead, several others injured, nine motorcycles torched and a police vehicle damaged, according to the National Police Service (NPS).

📌 What You Need to Know

Witnesses said a group of armed youth attempted to force their way into the church compound before violence broke out.

Addressing journalists after the incident, Sifuna condemned the attack, saying the violence was intended to intimidate opposition leaders but had instead exposed the country’s deteriorating political climate.

He lamented what he described as the normalization of armed groups operating in broad daylight.

“Nobody looking at the pictures that have come out of Kisumu today and Nyahururu can be proud of such a country, where people are just brandishing weapons and walking and marching on the streets to go and attack a congregation in church. This is the lowest I think we have sunk,” he said.

Governor Orengo drew parallels with the insecurity that has plagued Haiti, suggesting the violence bore signs of political orchestration.

“If you want to go to Haiti, Haiti is here. The violence and the audacity with which it is being organized, perpetrated and carried out has the hand of the state in it,” Orengo said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya