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A video that has gone viral online depicts Cabinet Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh and former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga addressing a group of youth who the urge to protect certain political interests.

Shebesh complains that the achievement of the Big Four agenda may be frustrated by what she terms as “makelele” (noises) from certain quarters.

This comes a day after Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu was accused of making inciting remarks against a certain community.

This is not the first time political leaders have been caught making remarks that leave a lot to be desired.

It is from the two scenarios painted above that amorphous groupings, not dissimilar to actual militias, are born to do the bidding of politicians, mostly insidious activities not in the best interests of the general populace.

In June, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over links to alleged militia going by the name Sonko Defence Force. He, however, denied the links or even existence of such militia.

A few months ago, media reported several killings at the coast, which security agencies linked to illegal militia groups.

The fact that such sporadic attacks can still be carried out, and the attacker getting away with it, must be food for thought for the DCI boss, George Kinoti, and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.

Three years ago, the government outlawed 89 criminal gangs spread over the length and breadth of the country.

The point we are making here is that some of the gangs may be in hibernation state and can be activated at short notice to serve narrow, parochial and utterly nasty, deadly interests. It has happened before. It can happen again.

Given the propensity of the political class to resort to underhand methods to settle scores, and neutralise opponents, the country’s intelligence machinery must work extra time to keep tabs on such groups.

The antagonism and bitterness that characterises our election cycles every season is reason enough for security agencies to spend sleepless nights to be ahead of the game.

The tendency to infuse militia-type brand of politics is an evil the people must resist to be drawn into, and which they must keep a watchful eye on. 

Eternal vigilance is key.