Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised concerns over rising political violence, warning that the country risks sliding into chaos if leaders continue to tolerate the use of gangs and intimidation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at Kabarak in Nakuru County on Friday, April 10, 2026, during the burial of the late Mitchelle Jelimo Kemboi, the daughter of Captain William Ruto, Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority, Murkomen addressed recent incidents of violence and urged political leaders across the political divide to take responsibility for the actions of their supporters.

Murkomen called on leaders to abandon violent tactics in politics, stressing that elections should not be associated with fear, intimidation, or the use of criminal groups.

“As we head towards the elections, I want to request all the leaders to reject politics driven by violence, goons, and gangs,” Murkomen stated.

Murkomen went on to describe a growing trend where he said that both current and aspiring leaders are mobilising young people into groups used to disrupt opponents and create chaos during public events.

“One of the biggest challenges we are facing as the county now is that many elected leaders, including those aspiring, are recruiting young people and using them as goons and gangs for the purposes of intimidating their opponents or causing chaos in the functions,” Murkomen stated.

Attack on Senator Osotsi

Murkomen addressed the recent attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, terming the incident unacceptable and warning that such acts threaten the country’s democratic space.

“We strongly condemn what happened to Senator Osotsi in Kisumu. It is totally unacceptable,” Murkomen said.

The CS further revealed that law enforcement agencies had already made progress in investigating the matter, noting that several persons of interest had been arrested as part of ongoing efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

“I am pleased to report that the DCI has arrested three persons of interest, and at the end of today, we will have arrested the remaining,” Murkomen stated.

Murkomen also responded to claims by opposition leaders linking his ministry to the violence, challenging them to publicly denounce the individuals involved instead of shifting blame.

“I have seen some opposition figures mentioning my PS during a press conference. I challenge them to come out openly and denounce the violence, goons and gangs they are walking around with them,” Murkomen stated.

He concluded by directing the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to act swiftly and ensure that all individuals involved in organising or carrying out violence are arrested, saying this would serve as a warning to others.

“I want to ask the IG Kanja to move with speed and arrest all those boys being used in the functions so that then it will become a proper example that they believe in this issue of fighting gangs,” Murkomen ordered.