People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has called for dialogue as a way of curbing the growing menace of goonism that has increasingly dominated Kenya’s political space in recent months.

The outspoken senior counsel made the remarks while addressing the media alongside her fellow United Opposition principals on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, in what appeared to be an olive branch across the political divide.

Karua urged Kenyans to reject violence as a means of resolving political differences, saying those involved in acts of political violence are members of the same communities and should be engaged through dialogue.

“We can reject violence as a means of resolving our differences. The goons are coming from our homes. As citizens, they are coming from our neighbourhoods and our communities. Let us talk to each other,” Karua said.

She also directed her remarks to police officers whom she accused of working alongside violent groups, warning that such actions were detrimental to the country.

“And to the police who are walking side by side with the goons, you are destroying Kenya. You too will not have a place to live if this country is destroyed,” she stated.

Nelson Koech’s take

With the issue of political goonism wreaking havoc in the country’s political space, culminating during the Ol Kalou by-election campaigns, Belgut Member of Parliament and National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech came out to state that every politician across the political divide has goons, and there are no sacred cows when it comes to the issue.

He stated that if political goonism is to end, it should begin with each individual leader taking responsibility.

Ol Kalou byelection preparedness

With the Ol Kalou by-election having witnessed incidents of political goonism, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has deployed over 1,000 police officers to the constituency to maintain security during the mini-polls.

He revealed that all 114 polling stations within the constituency have been adequately staffed with security personnel in line with the National Police Service’s standard deployment procedures.

According to the Inspector General, each polling station will have at least two police officers responsible for safeguarding election materials, securing the voting process, and ensuring IEBC officials carry out their duties without interference.

“Their work shall be to safeguard the voting materials and the voting process itself while offering adequate security at every polling station and ensuring electoral officials perform their duties without hindrance,” he stated.