Kindiki: Those aiding violence will be punished, regardless of who they support
By David Nthua, July 14, 2026Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned that politicians, financiers and supporters linked to political violence will face prosecution regardless of their political affiliations.
Kindiki issued the warning after the government announced the arrest of 20 suspects connected to violence that disrupted Linda Mwananchi’s political activities in Kisumu and Nyahururu on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
“The arrest of 20 suspects linked to the latest wave of political violence is a good start. No one will be spared,” Kindiki said in a Facebook statement on Monday, July 13, 2026.
“Those aiding and abetting violence will be punished, regardless of who they support.”
Kindiki warns sponsors of political violence
Kindiki’s latest statement escalates the government’s warning from targeting people directly involved in violent confrontations to pursuing those accused of financing, organising or enabling the attacks.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the National Police Service had arrested 20 people in connection with the incidents in Kisumu and Nyahururu.
Murkomen also directed the Inspector General of Police to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at identifying criminal networks, financiers and political actors involved in organising violence.
Kindiki had described political violence a day earlier as a serious threat to Kenya’s future and urged citizens to expose its sponsors.
“The primitive culture of political violence poses grave danger to our country’s future,” Kindiki wrote.
“Reject and expose the sponsors and enablers of violence, whether hiding behind notam, tutam, fotam, longtam or whatever other political sloganeering.”
His remarks came amid heightened political rivalry ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Linda Mwananchi’s events disrupted
In Kisumu, violence erupted outside St Stephen’s ACK Cathedral, where Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and other Linda Mwananchi leaders had attended a church service.
Police said two rival groups confronted each other, leaving one person dead and several others injured. Nine motorcycles were burnt, while a police vehicle was also damaged.
The National Police Service initially announced that eight suspects had been arrested in connection with the Kisumu violence.
In Nyahururu, another Linda Mwananchi event attended by Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and other political leaders ended prematurely after a group of people threw stones at the gathering.
Several people were injured during the confrontation, while vehicles forming part of the leaders’ convoy were damaged.
Police said Joseph Gitau, identified as Kang’ata’s driver, suffered a chest injury and was treated before being discharged. The NPS denied reports that he had been shot, maintaining that no firearm was discharged during the incident.
Six suspects were initially arrested over the Nyahururu violence.
The Nyahururu confrontation occurred against the backdrop of increasingly heated campaigns in neighbouring Nyandarua County, where the United Democratic Alliance and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party are competing for control of the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat.
Moses Kuria rules out opposition involvement
Former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria also entered the political debate surrounding the violence, stating that the Nyahururu attack was not organised by the opposition.
“I can confirm that the violence against Linda Mwananchi in Nyahururu was NOT planned by the opposition. The TRUTH shall set us FREE,” Kuria wrote on X.
Kuria did not identify the people he believed organised the attack or present supporting evidence in his brief statement.
His remarks intensified pressure on security agencies to move beyond arresting people accused of participating in the confrontations and establish who organised, financed or directed the violence.
As of publication, neither the National Police Service nor the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had publicly identified or announced the arrest of any person accused of sponsoring the Kisumu and Nyahururu attacks.
Security agencies had, however, stated that investigations were continuing and that additional suspects, including organisers and financiers, were being pursued.